Case for sterilizing contact lenses

ABSTRACT

A case for sterilizing contact lenses wherein a contact lens sterilization process using a hydrogen peroxide solution can be carried out easily and rapidly while effectively preventing both damage to the lenses and deposition of a heavy metal from a metal catalyst on the lenses. The contact lenses are horizontally supported in the hydrogen peroxide solution on a bottom surface of a lens containing portion which opens upward, and a contact preventing member which prevents the contact lenses from coming into contact with the metal catalyst is provided between the metal catalyst and the lens containing portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a case for sterilizing contact lensesused for sterilizing contact lenses using a hydrogen peroxide solution.

BACKGROUND ART

When using contact lenses, it is necessary to regularly subject thecontact lenses to a sterilization process. This is required forpreventing eye infections or eye disorders caused by microorganisms suchas bacteria or fungi adhered to the contact lens and maintaining safeand comfortable wear. In recent years, as disclosed in Japan PatentOffice, Standard Technologies, “Glasses”, page 323 (Non-PatentDocument 1) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.JP-A-2001-242428 (Patent Document 1) or the like, a single-liquid-typecleaning and storage solution to which surfactant and sterilizablepreservative are added is frequently used for carrying out sterilizationof the contact lens concomitantly. However, for users who have anallergy to sterilizable preservative etc. contained in thesingle-liquid-type cleaning and storage solution, or users who desiremore reliable sterilization effect or the like, a sterilization methodof immersing contact lenses in a hydrogen peroxide solution is stillutilized. In this method, in consideration of simplicity for users inparticular, a hydrogen peroxide disinfection system by using a singleliquid instead of using multiple liquids is prevailing, which utilizessterilization power of the hydrogen peroxide solution. Specifically, thesterilization process is performed by the user himself, who immerses thecontact lenses in an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide for overseveral hours.

While a hydrogen peroxide solution is non-toxic after decomposition intowater and oxygen, if undecomposed residue thereof exists, it mayirritates the eye and cause a problem. To cope with this, it has beenproposed to accelerate and adjust decomposition reaction of hydrogenperoxide by using a catalyst made of platinum or the like, so that thehydrogen peroxide will be completely decomposed and neutralized beforethe termination of the sterilization process of the contact lens. SeeJapanese Patent No. 2660453 (Patent Document 2), for example.

However, the conventional cases for sterilizing contact lenses whichutilizes hydrogen peroxide solution is very hard to use. Especially inrecent years, even improvement of usability or the like of this type ofcases has not been examined, since the majority of users employsterilization process utilizing the above-mentioned single-liquid-typecleaning and storage solution. Specifically, as disclosed in PatentDocument 2 mentioned earlier, the conventional cases for sterilizingcontact lenses which utilizes hydrogen peroxide solution includes a casemain unit of deep cylindrical shape that opens upward and a lid that isscrew-fastened onto the opening of the case main unit, wherein the lidis furnished with a lens retaining portion and a catalyst retainingportion that jut out into the case main unit. With this case main unitof deep cylindrical shape, the user has to place the left/right pair ofcontact lens in the lens retaining portion of special bucket shape withthe optical axis of the contact lens oriented in approximatelyhorizontal direction and the contact lenses standing (verticallyoriented). This will not only make it very cumbersome to place and takeout the contact lenses but also pose a risk of breakage or the like ofcontact lenses by being pinched by the bucket while being placedtherein. Moreover, since the case main unit is deep, especially from thelatter half of decomposition and neutralization when generation ofoxygen gas reduces, stirring of the hydrogen peroxide solution containedtherein may become inefficient. A resultant risk is that decompositionand neutralization of the hydrogen peroxide solution may partiallyprogress or the like and may cause unevenness of the sterilizationprocess and the neutralization process. Furthermore, since the case mainunit is of deep cylindrical shape and tall, even if placed on a table orthe like, it easily falls over when touched by fingers, resulting in aproblem that the hydrogen peroxide solution is likely to spill out.

Meanwhile, it would be conceivable to utilize a contact lens storagecontainer as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.JP-A-2000-189224 (Patent Document 3) or in Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. JP-A-6-205706 (Patent Document 4) for sterilizationutilizing a hydrogen peroxide solution. This container is orientedhorizontally and furnished with a pair of shallow lens containingportions that open upward and contain the contact lens in a horizontalmanner, with its optical axis oriented in approximately verticaldirection. However, the Patent Documents 3 and 4 never disclosespecifically where and in what structure a catalyst for neutralizinghydrogen peroxide solution should be disposed in such a contact lensstorage container oriented horizontally. Besides, these documents havenever even examined an effective assembly structure of such catalysts.

Another example is a container for sterilizing contact lenses whichutilizes a hydrogen peroxide solution as proposed in Japanese DomesticPublication of International Patent Application No. JP-A-2002-526203(Patent Document 5), wherein a contact lens storage container orientedhorizontally as described above has shallow lens containing portionswhose bottom surface and peripheral wall inner surface are simply coatedwith a platinum layer. However, with such a simple structure in whichthe entire inner surface of the container is coated with a catalystlayer, there is a risk that the contact lens may cover the surface ofthe catalyst layer and deteriorate the decomposition efficiency of thecatalyst. In addition, when the contact lens touches the catalyst, thereis a risk that heavy metals may adhere to the contact lens, causing aconsequent risk of inducing troubles such as user's allergy, or damagingthe lenses.

Japanese Patent No. 3368903 (Patent Document 6) proposes to neutralizethe hydrogen peroxide solution by using an enzyme tablet containingcatalase instead of using the catalyst. However, the enzyme tablet mustbe put into the hydrogen peroxide solution at the time of eachsterilization process. This operation or handling is cumbersome, andthere is a risk that the user may forget to put in the enzyme tablet.Moreover, since there is a problem that components of the enzyme tabletmay remain even of neutralization of the hydrogen peroxide solution,this proposal is not necessarily an effective approach.

BACKGROUND ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.    JP-A-2001-242428-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 2660453-   Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.    JP-A-2000-189224-   Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.    JP-A-6-205706-   Patent Document 5: Japanese Domestic Publication of International    Patent Application No. JP-A-2002-526203-   Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent No. 3368903

Non-Patent Document

-   Non-Patent Document 1: Japan Patent Office, Standard Technologies,    General, year 2005, “Glasses”, page 323, Title “13-3-1-1 Storage    Method in Solution”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem the Invention Attempts to Solve

It is an object of the present invention to provide a case forsterilizing contact lenses with a novel constitution which enables theuser to carry out a contact lens sterilization process easily,especially making it possible to place and take out the contact lensesreadily and rapidly, as well as to effectively prevent problems causedby a metal catalyst such as deposition of a heavy metal to the lenses,damage to the lenses, or the like.

Means for Solving the Problem

A first mode of the present invention provides a case for sterilizingcontact lenses including: a pair of lens containing portions eachopening upward for immersing and sterilizing a contact lens for a lefteye and a contact lens for a right eye within a hydrogen peroxidesolution, a bottom surface of each of the lens containing portions beingadapted to support the contact lens horizontally in a state where eitherone of a concave side lens surface and a convex side lens surface facestoward an opening of the lens containing portion; a metal catalyst whichcatalyzes decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution,being provided at a location where the metal catalyst comes into contactwith the hydrogen peroxide solution; and a contact preventing memberprovided between the metal catalyst and the lens containing portion forpreventing the contact lens from coming into contact with the metalcatalyst.

With the catalyst for contact lens sterilization according to thepresent mode, the contact lens for a left eye and the contact lens for aright eye is adapted to be contained respectively in each of the pair oflens containing portions in a horizontal state. Accordingly, the contactlens can be directly put in or taken out from the lens containingportion through the opening of the lens containing portion with the casefor sterilizing contact lenses placed on the resting face such as atable or the like. In particular, the each lens containing portion ismade sufficiently shallow in comparison with the conventional case whichis placed vertically. Thus, the operation will be easy since the user isable to directly insert his or her finger through the opening and put inor take out the contact lens, and it will also be easy to verify thatthe contact lens is present in the lens containing portion.

Moreover, by employing the metal catalyst as the catalyst fordecomposition of the hydrogen peroxide solution, unlike the enzymetablet as disclosed in Patent Document 6, it is not necessary to inputthe catalyst into the solution each time the process is carried out.Thus, the neutralization reaction will be exhibited with excellentdurability, stability, and reliability.

In addition, since the contact preventing member prevents the metalcatalyst from coming into direct contact with the contact lens, problemssuch as deposition of a heavy metal to the lens, damage to the lens, orthe like can be avoided as practicably as possible.

A second mode of the present invention provides the case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to the first mode wherein the metal catalyst ispositioned below the contact lens adapted to be contained in the lenscontaining portion.

According to the present mode, since the contact lens, which is thetarget of the sterilization, is disposed above the rising oxygen gaswhich has been generated around the catalyst, the circulation actionwill effectively take place in the area where the contact lens ispositioned in association with rise of the oxygen gas in the lenscontaining portion. Besides, it can be expected that the dirt will beremoved from the contact lens by contact action of the bubbles of theoxygen gas. Moreover, by providing the containing area of the catalystbelow the containing area of the contact lens, it is possible to makethe entire size of the case for sterilizing contact lenses in the planesurface compact or small.

A third mode of the present invention provides the case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to the first or second mode, further including:a solution containing portion for containing the hydrogen peroxidesolution; and a protruding support part projecting from a bottom surfaceof the solution containing portion, wherein the lens containing portionis formed at a projecting distal end of the protruding support part.

According to the present mode, even if the solution containing portionis deep and has a large capacity for obtaining a sufficient containingportion or the like, the lens containing portion can be made shallow, sothat the user is easily able to place and taking out the contact lens aswell as to visually observe that the contact lens is present.

A fourth mode of the present invention provides the case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to the third mode wherein the protrudingsupport part includes a leg portion projecting from the bottom surfaceof the solution containing portion and an umbrella-shaped head portionflaring peripherally outward from a projecting distal end of the legportion, and the lens containing portion is formed at theumbrella-shaped head portion.

A fifth mode of the present invention provides the case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to the fourth mode wherein in the solutioncontaining portion, the metal catalyst is positioned below theumbrella-shaped head portion, the contact preventing member comprisesthe umbrella-shaped head portion of the protruding support part, and theumbrella-shaped head portion limits movement of the metal catalystwithin the solution containing portion so as to prevent the metalcatalyst from coming into contact with the contact lens adapted to becontained in the lens containing portion of the umbrella-shaped headportion.

According to the present mode, it is desirable that the umbrella-shapedhead portion have a porous structure or a net structure, and that themetal catalyst be positioned below the lens containing portion formed inthe umbrella-shaped head portion. With this arrangement, it is possibleto lead the oxygen gas, which is generated in association with thedecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution by means of themetal catalyst, toward the lens containing portion, thereby inducingstir or convection current of the hydrogen peroxide solution.

A sixth mode of the present invention provides the case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to any of the first through fifth modeswherein, as the contact preventing member, a passage constricting memberis provided between areas where the contact lens and the metal catalystare positioned in order to prevent movement of both the contact lens andthe metal catalyst while permitting flow of the hydrogen peroxidesolution.

According to the present mode, it is not necessary for the metalcatalyst to be secured, bonded, or the like to the case, so that a widechoice for the metal catalyst as well as a simple fabrication orstructure thereof can be obtained. As specific examples of the passageconstricting member, a net, a fence, a porous material, a constrictingpassage or the like could be employed.

A seventh mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the first through sixthmodes, further including a temporary lens platform for temporarilyretaining the contact lens, the temporary lens platform being providedat a surface away from the solution containing portion which is adaptedto contain the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Specifically, with the case for sterilizing contact lenses utilizing thehydrogen peroxide solution, if the user removes the contact lens for oneeye to immerse it in the solution and then intends to remove the contactlens for the other eye, there is a risk that the hydrogen peroxidesolution adhered to the user's finger during immersing the contact lensfor one eye may touch the other eye. According to this mode, it isreadily possible to place the first-removed contact lens for one eye onthe temporary lens platform and then remove the contact lens for theother eye, and afterwards immerse the both contact lenses in thehydrogen peroxide solution. By so doing, problems that the hydrogenperoxide solution may touch the user's eye during the contact lenssterilization process will be effectively prevented.

An eighth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the first through seventhmodes wherein: the solution containing portion which is adapted tocontain the hydrogen peroxide solution includes the lens containingportion; a lid is provided for covering the solution containing portion;and a gas discharge passage is provided for discharging an oxygen gas,which is generated in association with a decomposition of the hydrogenperoxide solution, from the solution containing portion with thesolution containing portion covered by the lid.

The gas discharge passage according to the present mode may be formed byproviding a through hole to the lid or the like, for example.Alternatively, it would also be acceptable to utilize a gap between thelid and the case main unit onto which the lid is adapted to besuperposed.

A ninth mode of the present invention provides the case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to the eighth mode wherein the lid is providedin a bendable manner to a case main unit which forms the solutioncontaining portion, and the solution containing portion is adapted to becovered by means of the lid being bent with respect to the case mainunit so as to be superposed against an upper face of the case main unitonto which the solution containing portion opens.

In order to make the case main unit and the lid bendable in the presentmode, for example, the case main unit and the lid formed as separateelements may be linked in a bendable manner by a flexible tape, a hingemember, or the like. Alternatively, as will be described later in thetenth mode, an easily bendable part may be provided between theintegrally-formed case main unit and lid.

A tenth mode of the present invention provides the case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to the ninth mode wherein the case main unitand the lid is integrally molded from a thin-walled resin material, andthe lid is bendable by being bent at a linking portion of the case mainunit and the lid.

The present mode will be advantageously realized by integrally formingthe case main unit and the lid with a film material made of a syntheticresin for example, and linking them at the linear section of each outerperipheral edge thereof in a bendable manner.

An eleventh mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the first through tenthmodes, further including a catalyst containing portion which containsthe metal catalyst, wherein the pair of lens containing portions and thecatalyst containing portion are respectively formed as recesses thatopen upward, and mutual communication passages are formed for mutuallyconnecting the recesses so as to allow the hydrogen peroxide solution toflow among the recesses.

According to the present mode, the left/right pair of the lenscontaining portions and the catalyst containing portion are formed so asto open onto the different portions from one another. This makes itpossible to obtain a sufficient capacity for each of the containingportions while minimizing the maximum height dimension of the case forsterilizing contact lenses. Besides, this arrangement makes it easy notonly to place and take out the contact lenses with respect to the pairof lens containing portions but also to place and take out the metalcatalyst with respect to the catalyst containing portion or the like.Furthermore, it is possible to directly view and check the condition ofthe metal catalyst immersed within the hydrogen peroxide solutionthrough the opening of the catalyst containing portion.

A twelfth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the eleventh mode wherein eachof the pair of lens containing portions has an aperture of the mutualcommunication passage, and the aperture has a length equal to ⅕ or moreof a circumference of the lens containing portion.

According to the present mode, among the catalyst containing portion andthe pair of lens containing portions, the circulation efficiency of thehydrogen peroxide solution contained therein will be improved andmaintained. By so doing, the neutralization reaction of the hydrogenperoxide solution that actively progresses in the catalyst containingportion will be efficiently exerted as far as to the pair of lenscontaining portions, thereby advantageously uniforming the entireconcentration (the progress of the neutralization reaction) of thesolution.

A thirteenth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the eleventh or twelfth modewherein the mutual communication passages interconnect the recesses soas to form an annular circulation passage.

According to the present mode, more improved circulation efficiency ofthe hydrogen peroxide solution can be obtained among the catalystcontaining portion and the pair of lens containing portions. Thecatalyst containing portion may be constituted, for example, in the waytaught by the fourteenth mode to be described later. By so doing, onecatalyst containing portion is able to even more efficiently communicatewith the pair of lens containing portions.

A fourteenth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the thirteenth mode wherein: thecatalyst containing portion is positioned between the pair of lenscontaining portions; a pair of adjacent communication passages eachconnecting with one of the lens containing portions are formed on a rimof an opening of the catalyst containing portion at positions opposed toeach other so that the pair of lens containing portions areinterconnected via the catalyst containing portion; and a parallelcommunication passage is formed so as to extend parallel to a directionof array of the pair of lens containing portions and the catalystcontaining portion, and lengthwise opposite ends of the parallelcommunication passage each connect with one of the lens containingportions while a lengthwise middle portion of the parallel communicationpassage connects with the catalyst containing portion so that thecirculation passage includes the pair of adjacent communication passagesand the parallel communication passage.

A fifteenth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the eleventh throughfourteenth modes, further including a common recess that surrounds aperiphery of openings of the pair of lens containing portions and thecatalyst containing portion, wherein the pair of lens containingportions and the catalyst containing portion open onto the commonrecess.

According to the present mode, for example, if the user's finger isinserted into the lens containing portion during placing and taking outof the contact lens with respect to the lens containing portion, thehydrogen peroxide solution pushed out by the user's finger will rapidlyflow via the common recess to the other lens containing portion or tothe catalyst containing portion etc. Therefore, the rise of the surfaceof the hydrogen peroxide solution in the lens containing portion will beminimized, thereby effectively preventing the hydrogen peroxide solutionfrom spilling out of the case.

A sixteenth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the eleventh throughfifteenth modes wherein the lid that covers the opening of the pair oflens containing portions has on an inside face thereof inward convexportions corresponding with the lens containing portions, and by meansof the lid being mounted onto the opening of the lens containingportions, the inward convex portions are adapted to be inserted into thehydrogen peroxide solution contained in the lens containing portions.

According to the present mode, by placing the contact lenses in the pairof lens containing portions and then attaching the lid, the inwardconvex portions of the lid will push the hydrogen peroxide solution outof the pair of lens containing portions. This will raise the surfacelevel of the hydrogen peroxide solution, so that the solution surfacelevel of the catalyst containing portion will rise as well, therebymaking it possible to immerse the catalyst in more reliable manner.

A seventeenth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the sixteenth mode wherein bymeans of the lid being mounted onto the opening of the lens containingportions, the inward convex portions are adapted to push the contactlenses into the hydrogen peroxide solution contained in the lenscontaining portions.

An eighteenth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the first throughseventeenth modes wherein the metal catalyst is at least one of metalsand metal oxides thereof selected from the group consisting of platinum,silver, palladium, copper, manganese, cobalt, and aluminum.

By employing the metal catalyst as described above, a good catalysiswill be stably exhibited for multiple times of use. Whereas the entirecatalyst may be formed of the material of the metal catalyst, it wouldalso be acceptable for the catalyst to be foliated of a compositematerial, as will be taught in the twentieth mode described later.

A nineteenth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the first througheighteenth modes wherein the metal catalyst has a surface area ofbetween 3 and 30 cm² per 10 ml of the hydrogen peroxide solution.

If the surface area of the catalyst is smaller than 3 cm²/10 ml, thereis a risk that the catalysis may not sufficiently exhibit onneutralization reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution, resulting inrequiring a long time for the neutralization process and hence for thecontact lens sterilization process. On the other hand, if the surfacearea of the catalyst is greater than 30 cm²/10 ml, not only may theproduction cost of the catalyst be high, but also there is a risk thatthe neutralization reaction may progress so fast that the contact lenssterilization process may be insufficient.

A twentieth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the first throughnineteenth modes wherein the metal catalyst is made by adhering a metalcoat which catalyzes decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxidesolution to a surface of a base material.

As the base material, it is possible to employ a suitable material suchas a synthetic resin material, a metal, a glass, a ceramic, a rubber, orthe like, for example. A metal coat can be formed on a part or theentirety of the base material surface. By so doing, according to thepresent mode, a large surface area will be established while using alimited amount of the metal catalyst, so that adjustments such asimproving catalysis will be possible. In addition, there is a greaterdegree of freedom in designing the shape of the catalyst depending onthe place where the catalyst is contained or the like.

A twenty-first mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the first throughtwentieth modes wherein: the metal catalyst is disposed in the catalystcontaining portion and adapted to be immersed within the hydrogenperoxide solution; during decomposition reaction of the hydrogenperoxide solution, the metal catalyst undergoes displacement by exertionof buoyancy on the basis of oxygen bubbles being generated; and afterdecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution, the metalcatalyst is held in non-displacement state due to dissipation of thebuoyancy on the basis of the oxygen bubbles while being displaceablewithin the catalyst containing portion.

According to the present mode, at least in the state where a normalcatalysis is exhibited, the catalyst undergoes displacement within thesolution. Therefore, by visually observing the displacement of thecatalyst in addition to the oxygen bubbles generated duringdecomposition of the hydrogen peroxide solution, the user of the contactlens can more easily appreciate that both the desired sterilization andthe expected neutralization are being performed. Accordingly, incomparison with only observing the oxygen bubbles, the user of thecontact lens is able to more clearly confirm that the expectedsterilization process is being performed, thereby affording sense ofsecurity.

In addition, owing to the displacement of the catalyst induced by theoxygen bubbles, the hydrogen peroxide solution can be stirred on thebasis of the displacement of the catalyst within the hydrogen peroxidesolution and diffusion of the oxygen bubbles. Consequently, the uniformhydrogen peroxide solution will be obtained, thereby attaining bothstable sterilization process of the contact lens and stableneutralization process expected with respect to the hydrogen peroxidesolution.

In the present embodiment in particular, the displacement of thecatalyst can be realized by utilizing buoyancy of the oxygen bubbles.Thus, neither special energy nor large-scale apparatus or the like isnecessary. Moreover, the oxygen bubbles, which serve as the motive powerof the displacement of the catalyst, are generated in association withdecomposition of the hydrogen peroxide solution by means of thecatalyst. This will be an indicator that the expected decompositionprocess of the hydrogen peroxide solution by means of the catalyst hasalso been normally started at the start of the contact lenssterilization process by means of the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Furthermore, the displacement of the catalyst within the hydrogenperoxide solution during the sterilization process can attract theinterest of the user. This will motivate the user to voluntarily carryout the sterilization process and check the status thereof. Therefore,it can be expected that the sterilization process of the contact lensentrusted to the user will be regularly performed in more reliable andstable manner.

A twenty-second mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the twenty-first mode whereinthe displacement of the metal catalyst during decomposition reaction ofthe hydrogen peroxide solution is rotation; and the non-displacementstate of the metal catalyst after decomposition reaction of the hydrogenperoxide solution is stop of rotation.

A twenty-third mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the twenty-first ortwenty-second mode wherein the displacement of the metal catalyst duringdecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution is emergence;and the non-displacement state of the metal catalyst after decompositionreaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution is submergence.

According to the above-mentioned twenty-second or twenty-third mode, theenergy of the oxygen bubbles generated during the decomposition reactionof the hydrogen peroxide solution can be efficiently utilized for thedisplacement of the catalyst. Note that it would also be possible toconcomitantly manifest both of the rotation according to thetwenty-second mode and the emergence according to the twenty-third mode.It could also be acceptable to employ other displacement mode such asswinging or the like instead of or in addition to the above-mentionedrotation or emergence.

In particular, by employing the rotational displacement according to thetwenty-second mode, the catalyst continues to displace as long as theoxygen bubbles are generated by more than the prescribed amount per unittime by means of decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxidesolution, making it possible to readily confirm whether or not thecatalyst undergoes displacement. In order to induce rotationaldisplacement of the catalyst by means of buoyancy of the oxygen bubbles,for example, a motion conversion mechanism of conventionally known suchas a water wheel that rotates utilizing gravity or the like may beemployed.

Meanwhile, by employing the emerging/submerging displacement accordingto the twenty-third mode, the displacement of the catalyst can be moreeasily observed, especially from the lateral side. Note that thecatalyst emerges and submerges by such an amount of displacement withinthe hydrogen peroxide solution as to be visually checked. In preferredpractice, in the emerging state, the catalyst is adapted to be partiallyexposed upward out of the solution surface while in the submergingstate, the catalyst is adapted to be in contact with the bottom of thecontainer which contains the hydrogen peroxide solution.

A twenty-fourth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the twenty-first throughtwenty-third modes wherein the metal catalyst has on a surface thereofat least one of a concave portion and a convex portion.

According to the present mode, “the concave portion” will trap theoxygen bubbles and increase the surface area of the catalyst, therebyobtaining increased buoyancy. Meanwhile, “the convex portion” willincrease the surface area of the catalyst and increase bumps of theoxygen bubbles, thereby obtaining increased buoyancy. By appropriatelysetting the shape, size, number or the like of the concave portion orthe convex portion, it would also be possible to adjust the surface areaand hence the catalysis of the catalyst.

A twenty-fifth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the twenty-fourth mode whereinthe metal catalyst includes on the surface thereof a hollow serving asthe concave portion that opens downward with the metal catalyst immersedwithin the hydrogen peroxide solution, and the metal catalyst furtherincludes a discharge passage for discharging the oxygen bubbles trappedin the hollow in a limiting manner.

According to the present mode, during the decomposition reaction of thehydrogen peroxide solution, the hollow traps and pools the generatedoxygen bubbles and is able to exert an ample buoyancy on the catalyst.Concomitantly, after the decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxidesolution, the discharge passage discharges the oxygen gas stored in thehollow and is able to dissipate or decrease the buoyancy action of theoxygen bubbles. This arrangement will utilize the oxygen bubbles evenbetter, realizing displacement of the catalyst such asemergence/submergence or the like.

In addition, by relatively adjusting the size of the hollow and thedischarge efficiency of the discharge passage, even in the state wherethe decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution becomesprogressively attenuated, for example, it is possible to reserve theoxygen bubbles within the hollow and continue to exert the effectivebuoyancy on the catalyst so as to keep the catalyst in a state ofdisplacement. It would also be possible to limit the outflow of theoxygen bubbles through the discharge passage so that, when theneutralization of the hydrogen peroxide solution is completed due to itsdecomposition reaction, the amount of reserved oxygen bubbles in thehollow decreases to the extent that the effective buoyancy will not beexerted on the catalyst.

As “the discharge passage” according to the present mode, for example,it is possible to employ a tunnel structure that perforates the catalystso as to extend upward from the upper base part of the hollow that opensdownward. Alternatively, a groove structure provided to the outerperipheral wall of the hollow (namely, a groove structure having aslightly small height and permitting the bubbles to overpass so as toreadily exit to the outer peripheral side) or the like may also beemployed.

A twenty-sixth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the twenty-first throughtwenty-fifth modes wherein with respect to the metal catalyst, a ratioMIF between a mass M and a buoyancy F exerted within the hydrogenperoxide solution is more than 1 and does not exceed 2.

According to the present mode, apart from the specific gravity as thematerial, the buoyancy that exerts on the catalyst per se as thecomponent is established within the range of the present mode. With thisarrangement, the displacement of emergence/submergence etc. will beeffectively realized by presence or absence of the buoyancy action addedby the oxygen bubbles of such extent as to be generated during thedecomposition of the hydrogen peroxide solution. Note that the value ofthe buoyancy F according to the present mode is the buoyancy of thecatalyst per se and does not include the buoyancy added by the oxygenbubbles. Besides, the buoyancy F can be adjusted by using multiple typesof materials in combination, employing a hollow structure, or the like,in consideration of the specific gravity of the material of thecatalyst.

A twenty-seventh mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to any of the twenty-first throughtwenty-sixth modes, further including a reserving member that permitsdisplacement of the metal catalyst within the catalyst containingportion in emerging and submerging directions while reserving the metalcatalyst within the catalyst containing portion during discharge of thehydrogen peroxide solution from the catalyst containing portion.

According to the present mode, when discharging the contained hydrogenperoxide solution after the neutralization or the like, the catalyst isprevented from being washed away. This makes it easy to use the caserepeatedly for sterilization processes of multiple times.

A twenty-eighth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the twenty-seventh mode whereinthe metal catalyst includes a mating portion, and on the basis of matingaction of the mating portion, displacement of emergence and submergenceof the metal catalyst within the catalyst containing portion ispermitted while detachment of the metal catalyst from the catalystcontaining portion is prevented so as to provide the reserving member.

As “the mating portion and retaining portion” according to the presentmode, it is possible to employ various types of structures that arecapable of permitting displacement of the catalyst while preventingdetachment of the catalyst from the catalyst containing portion. Suchstructures include, for example, a support shaft mechanism in which thecatalyst is furnished with a support shaft that serves as the matingportion and is retained by the retaining portion rotatably about itscenter axis, and the catalyst undergoes swinging displacement about thesupport shaft.

Another example is a guide mechanism in which the catalyst is furnishedwith a guide groove that serves as the retaining portion or the matingportion guided by a guide shaft, and undergoes reciprocatingdisplacement. Yet another example is a shaft support mechanism in whichthe catalyst is furnished with the mating portion rotatably supported bya rotating shaft that serves as the retaining portion. Any of thesestructures may be preferably employed.

A twenty-ninth mode of the present invention provides the case forsterilizing contact lenses according to the twenty-eighth mode whereinthe case for sterilizing contact lenses as defined in the fourteenthmode is employed, and the mating portion provided to the metal catalystprojects out from the catalyst containing portion so as to be mated withthe parallel communication passage.

According to the present mode, by utilizing the parallel communicationpassage well, the reserving member for reserving the metal catalystwithin the catalyst containing portion is effectively realized. Inparticular, the support shaft is rotatably detained within the parallelcommunication passage while the metal catalyst is formed so as to extendorthogonally from the rotation center axis of the support shaft. Withthis arrangement, it is possible to establish a large amount ofdisplacement of the metal catalyst induced in association with rotationaction of the support shaft without necessitating displacement of thesupport shaft.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the left and right contact lensesare adapted to be contained in the respective lens containing portionsthat open upward in a horizontal state. Accordingly, during the contactlens sterilization process, the contact lens can be directly and easilyput in or taken out from the lens containing portion. Moreover, owing tothe contact preventing member, the present invention is capable ofavoiding problems such as deposition of a heavy metal to the contactlens, damage to the contact lens, or the like, while stably performingthe neutralization process with respect to the hydrogen peroxidesolution by means of the metal catalyst.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case main unit that constitutes a casefor sterilizing contact lenses according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lid that constitutes the case forsterilizing contact lenses in cooperation with the case main unit ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a catalyst that constitutes the case forsterilizing contact lenses in cooperation with the case main unit ofFIG. 1 and the lid of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plane view of the case main unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top plane view of the lid of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view of the catalystin FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view of the catalystin FIG. 3, taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view depicting a usage of the case for sterilizing contactlenses according to the first embodiment of the present invention whichis constituted by the case main unit of FIG. 1, the lid of FIG. 2, andthe catalyst of FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a view depicting another usage of the case for sterilizingcontact lenses of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a case main unit that constitutes acase for sterilizing contact lenses according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 15 is a top plane view of the case main unit of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view depicting a specific example of a catalystthat constitutes the case for sterilizing contact lenses in cooperationwith the case main unit of FIG. 14.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view depicting another specific example of acatalyst employable instead of the catalyst of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a top plane view depicting yet another specific example of acatalyst employable instead of the catalysts of FIG. 19 and FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a view depicting the catalyst of FIG. 21 installed.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another specific example of a catalystfor use in the case main unit of FIG. 1, which is employable instead ofthe catalyst of FIG. 3.

FIG. 24 is a view depicting yet another specific example of a catalystemployable instead of the catalyst of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a top plane view of the case for sterilizing contact lensesof FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the case forsterilizing contact lenses of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Following, embodiments of the present invention are described whilereferring to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 depicts a case main unit 10which constitutes a case for sterilizing contact lenses, FIG. 2 depictsa lid 12, and FIG. 3 depicts a metal catalyst 14 for use in contact lenssterilization. The metal catalyst 14 of FIG. 3 is attached to the casemain unit 10 of FIG. 1, and the lid 12 of FIG. 2 is mounted thereto in areclosable manner, so that a case for sterilizing contact lenses 16according to a first embodiment of the present invention (see FIGS. 12and 13) is provided.

Described more specifically, the case main unit 10 shown in FIG. 1, asalso depicted in FIGS. 4 through 6, is furnished with an oval-shapedupper base part 18 and a peripheral wall 20 extending downward from theouter peripheral edge of the upper base part 18. The case main unit 10is a hollow body of inverted bowl shape that opens downward. Inpreferred practice, the case main unit 10 is integrally molded from asynthetic resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate orpolypropylene. The case main unit 10 is transparent in its entirety, sothat the contact lens, the metal catalyst 14 or the like containedwithin the case main unit 10 are visible from the outside through thecase main unit 10.

Further, the case main unit 10 is furnished with a flange-shaped supportplate 22 that flares toward the outer peripheral side from the lower endperipheral edge of the peripheral wall 20. Owing to this support plate22, the case main unit 10 can be stably placed on a flat, horizontalsupport surface such as a table. Note that the support plate 22 has ahanging hole 23, and by inserting a hook rod or a hook through thishanging hole 23, it is possible for a user to dry the lens case everyday. Also, a sales outlet or the like can suspend and stock the casemain unit 10 and hence the case for sterilizing contact lenses 16.

Moreover, the upper base part 18 of the case main unit 10 has a catalystcontaining portion 24 at approximately center section thereof.Furthermore, there are formed a pair of lens containing portions 26, 26on opposite sides of the catalyst containing portion 24 in the majoraxis direction of the upper base part 18. The pair of lens containingportions 26, 26 respectively contains a contact lens for a left eye anda contact lens for a right eye. The pair of lens containing portions 26,26 and the catalyst containing portion 24 are respectively formed asrecesses that open onto the outside surface of the upper base part 18.The concave bottom surface of the lens containing portions 26, 26 isadapted to support the contact lens horizontally in the state where theconvex side lens surface faces toward the bottom surface and the concaveside lens surface faces toward the opening of the lens containingportions 26, 26. During the desired sterilization process of the contactlens, a hydrogen peroxide solution 44 is injected and stored in each ofthe catalyst containing portion 24 and the lens containing portions 26,26. In addition, the respective left and right contact lenses are placedin the lens containing portions 26, 26, while the metal catalyst 14described later is placed in the catalyst containing portion 24.

In particular, each of the lens containing portions 26, 26 is asemispherical recess that opens with a diameter greater than the outsidediameter dimension of the contact lens to be treated. The catalystcontaining portion 24 has an oval-shaped opening with its major axiscoinciding with the minor axis direction of the upper base part 18 andhas a bottom surface 30 of a flat surface. Note that the bottom surface30 of the catalyst containing portion 24 is positioned higher (nearer tothe opening) than the deepest part of the lens containing portions 26,26, so that the catalyst containing portion 24 is shallower than thelens containing portions 26, 26. Additionally, the entire case main unit10 is formed of a transparent material, including the wall which formsthese lens containing portions 26, 26 and the catalyst containingportion 24. This arrangement provides a wall for visual observationpermitting to observe from the outside the displacement state of thecontact lens or the metal catalyst 14 contained therein. In the presentembodiment, the bottom surface 30 of the catalyst containing portion 24is positioned higher (nearer to the opening) than the deepest part ofthe lens containing portions 26, 26, so that the catalyst containingportion 24 is shallower than the lens containing portions 26, 26.However, the structure is not limited thereby. Specifically, it ispossible to modify the depth or capacity of the catalyst containingportion 24 so as to adjust decomposition efficiency of the hydrogenperoxide solution, or adjust the amount of displacement of the catalyst14 described later, or the like. In association therewith, the catalystcontaining portion 24 may have a greater depth or a larger capacity thanthat of the lens containing portion 26.

Between the catalyst containing portion 24 and the neighboring lenscontaining portions 26, 26, there are formed dividing walls 32, 32serving as a contact preventing member. This arrangement will preventthe contact lens contained in the lens containing portions 26, 26 fromcoming into contact with the metal catalyst 14 contained in the catalystcontaining portion 24. The dividing walls 32, 32 have a pair of adjacentcommunication passages 34, 34 each having U-shaped cross section,serving as a mutual communication passage. Specifically, through theseadjacent communication passages 34, 34, the catalyst containing portion24 communicates with the lens containing portions 26, 26 on its oppositesides. When the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 is injected into the lenscontaining portions 26, 26 and the catalyst containing portion 24, theadjacent communication passages 34, 34 allow the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 to flow among the lens containing portions 26, 26 and thecatalyst containing portion 24. With this arrangement, the pair of thelens containing portions 26, 26 are interconnected via the adjacentcommunication passages 34, 34 and the catalyst containing portion 24.Note that the depth of the adjacent communication passage 34 isshallower than that of the catalyst containing portion 24 or the lenscontaining portion 26. With respect to each of the pair of the adjacentcommunication passages 34, 34 that connect the catalyst containingportion 24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26, one aperture opensonto the rim of the opening of the catalyst containing portion 24 so asto opposed to each other in the lateral direction. Meanwhile, the otheraperture of each of the adjacent communication passages 34, 34 opensonto the rim of the opening of the lens containing portion 26 with alength equal to ⅕ or more of the circumference of the outside edge ofthe lens containing portion 26. However, if a support rod 60 of thecatalyst depicted in FIG. 3 also serves as a catalyst, the sum of thelengths of the adjacent communication passage 34 and an end connectionpassage 40 will be equal to ⅕ or more of the circumference of theoutside edge of the lens containing portion 26.

Moreover, the case main unit 10 includes on its upper base part 18 acommon recess 36 of generally oval shape that spreads so as to surrounda periphery of the catalyst containing portion 24 and the lenscontaining portions 26, 26. The common recess 36 has a generally ovalshape that is slightly smaller than the upper base part 18 with asloping bottom surface that becomes progressively deeper from the outerperipheral edge toward the center. The catalyst containing portion 24,the lens containing portions 26, 26, and the adjacent communicationpassages 34, 34 open onto the bottom surface of the common recess 36.

The case main unit 10 further includes on its upper base part 18 aparallel communication groove 38 serving as a parallel communicationpassage that abuts against one end edge of the common recess 36 (theupper end edge in FIG. 4) in the minor axis direction. The parallelcommunication groove 38 extends in a straight line in the major axisdirection of the upper base part 18 (the lateral direction in FIG. 4),which coincides with the direction of array of the catalyst containingportion 24 and the pair of the lens containing portions 26, 26. Thelengthwise opposite ends of the parallel communication groove 38 providethe end connection passages 40, 40 at the dividing wall between theparallel communication groove 38 and the respective lens containingportions 26, 26. Meanwhile, the lengthwise middle portion of theparallel communication groove 38 provide a middle connection passage 42at the dividing wall between the parallel communication groove 38 andthe catalyst containing portion 24.

Note that in the present embodiment, the depth of the parallelcommunication groove 38 is shallower than that of the catalystcontaining portion 24 and the lens containing portion 26 while deeperthan that of the adjacent communication passage 34. The depth of themiddle connection passage 42 is deeper than that of the end connectionpassage 40, 40 and the adjacent communication passage 34 whileapproximately equal to that of the parallel communication groove 38. Thedepth of the end connection passage 40 is shallower than that of themiddle connection passage 42 while approximately equal to that of theadjacent communication passage 34. However, the depth or capacity ofeach of the parallel communication groove 38, the middle connectionpassage 42, and the end connection passage 40 is not limited by the modeof the present embodiment. By adjusting these values mutually to oneanother or relatively to that of the catalyst containing portion 24 orthe lens containing portion 26 etc., it is possible to adjust fluid flowefficiency among these areas or to adjust decomposition efficiency ofthe hydrogen peroxide solution within the catalyst containing portion24. In addition, the width and depth of the adjacent communicationpassage 34 and the parallel communication groove 38 are established soas to be capable of preventing movement of the contact lens contained inthe lens containing portion 26 toward the catalyst containing portion 24or the parallel communication groove 38. Specifically, in the presentembodiment, a passage constricting member is provided including thedividing wall 32 which divides the lens containing portion 26 and thecatalyst containing portion 24, and the adjacent communication passage34. This arrangement permits flow of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44while preventing movement of the contact lens toward the catalystcontaining portion 24 and movement of the metal catalyst 14 toward thelens containing portion 26. Note that the structure of the passageconstricting member is not limited in particular to those by reducingthe passage width or the passage depth, provided that it can be able toprevent movement of the contact lens and the metal catalyst 14. Forexample, it would also be acceptable to separately provide a net-shapedor lattice-shaped fence in order to prevent movement of the contact lensand the metal catalyst 14.

Furthermore, the parallel communication groove 38 communicates with bothof the catalyst containing portion 24 and the lens containing portions26, 26. Accordingly, the catalyst containing portion 24 and the lenscontaining portions 26, 26 are interconnected via the parallelcommunication groove 38. With the catalyst containing portion 24 and thelens containing portions 26, 26 interconnected via the adjacentcommunication passage 34, the parallel communication groove 38, the endconnection passages 40, 40, and the middle connection passage 42, thecatalyst containing portion 24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26are not only connected in series but also interconnected so as to forman annular circulation passage. Specifically, the annular circulationpassage is constructed as follows: “catalyst containing portion24→adjacent communication passage 34(left)→lens containing portion26(left)→end connection passage 40(left)→parallel communication groove38→end connection passage 40(right)→lens containing portion26(right)→adjacent communication passage 34(right)→catalyst containingportion 24”; or “catalyst containing portion 24→adjacent communicationpassage 34(left)→lens containing portion 26(left)→end connection passage40(left)→parallel communication groove 38→middle connection passage42→catalyst containing portion 24”; or the like.

At the time of the sterilization process of the contact lens, thehydrogen peroxide solution 44 is injected and stored in the catalystcontaining portion 24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26 (see FIGS.5 and 6). As the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 to be injected therein, a3% solution or the like, which is commercially available for contactlens sterilization, would be preferably employed. The hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 is injected and stored so as to not only enter the catalystcontaining portion 24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26 but alsogo around all of the adjacent communication passages 34, the parallelcommunication groove 38, the end connection passages 40, 40, and themiddle connection passage 42, with the volume such that the solutionsurface becomes higher than the bottom surface of any of those. Thecatalyst containing portion 24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26communicate with one another via the adjacent communication passages 34,the parallel communication groove 38, the end connection passages 40, 40and the middle connection passage 42 so as to provide the annularcirculation passage. Accordingly, the hydrogen peroxide solution 44stored in the catalyst containing portion 24 and the lens containingportions 26, 26 is allowed to flow among these containing portions.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 7 through 9, the aforementioned lid 12 asdepicted in FIG. 2 has a cover shape that corresponds to the case mainunit 10. Specifically, the lid 12 is furnished with an oval-shaped upperbase part 46 and a peripheral wall 48 extending downward from the outerperipheral edge of the upper base part 46. The lid 12 is a hollow bodyof inverted bowl shape that opens downward. Similarly to the case mainunit 10, the lid 12 is preferably an integrally molded component ofsynthetic resin material. However, it would also be possible for the lid12 to be thin-walled compared to the case main unit 10, and to be moldedby injection molding of a resin material or hot-pressing of a resin filmor the like, for example. In order to visually observe the catalystcontaining portion 24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26 of thecase main unit 10 from the outside even when the case main unit 10 iscovered by the lid 12, it is particularly preferred for the lid 12 to betransparent at least in a part that covers the catalyst containingportion 24, and more preferably, as far as a part that covers the lenscontaining portions 26, 26.

The lid 12 has a size slightly larger than that of the case main unit 10by approximately the wall thickness of the lid 12. As depicted in FIG. 8together with the case main unit 10 shown by the imaginary line, the lid12 is adapted to be superposed and detachably mounted onto the case mainunit 10 so that the concave side face of the lid 12 overlaps the convexside face of the case main unit 10. By so doing, both of the catalystcontaining portion 24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26 will becovered with the lid 12.

The lid 12 is kept mounted onto the case main unit 10 by means of itsperipheral wall 48 being fitted externally onto the peripheral wall 20of the case main unit 10. However, it would also be acceptable toprovide concave/convex detents or the like to the two peripheral walls48, 20 in order to avoid unexpected detachment of the lid 12 from thecase main unit 10. In addition, the lid 12 is furnished with a pull tab50 of crescent shape that extends toward the outer peripheral side froma part of the lower end peripheral edge of the peripheral wall 48. Bygripping by fingers the pull tab 50 of the lid 12 superposed against thecase main unit 10, the lid 12 can be easily detached from the case mainunit 10. Note that with the lid 12 superposed against the case main unit10, there is formed a tiny gap between the lid 12 and the case main unit10, which serves as a gas discharge passage. Through the gap, the oxygengas generated in association with decomposition of the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 can be discharged.

Besides, the lid 12 includes on its upper base part 46 a catalyst lid 52at its generally center, and a pair of lens lids 54, 54 serving asinward convex portions at opposite sides of the catalyst lid 52 in themajor axis direction of the upper base part 46. The catalyst lid 52 hasa convex dome shape that bulges to the outer surface side of the upperbase part 46. On the other hand, the lens lids 54, 54 each have aconcave dome shape that bulges to the inner surface side. Note that allof these catalyst lid 52 and the lens lids 54, 54 are transparent, sothat it is possible to observe from the outside the condition ofdisplacement of the metal catalyst 14 contained in the catalystcontaining portion 24, or the condition of the contact lenses containedin the lens containing portions 26, 26.

By means of the lid 12 being superposed against and attached to the casemain unit 10, the catalyst lid 52 and the lens lids 54, 54 of the lid 12are placed on the respective openings of the catalyst containing portion24 and the lens containing portions 26, 26 and cover them. In thisstate, there is formed a cover space 56 above the opening of thecatalyst containing portion 24 which is covered by the catalyst lid 52projecting outward. Meanwhile, the lens lids 54 projecting inward isinserted into the respective lens containing portions 26. With thisarrangement, the center portion of the lens lid 54 is pushed from thesurface to inside of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44, which isinjected in the lens containing portion 26.

Moreover, the lens lids 54, 54 of the lid 12 provide a temporary lensplatform by its convex face or concave face. In preferred practice, thecurvature radius of the convex face or concave face of the lens lids 54,54 is established to the value approximate to a general curvature of theconvex face or concave face of a contact lens. By so doing, with the lid12 detached from the case main unit 10 and placed on the flat,horizontal support face, the user of the contact lens can temporarilyrest the removed contact lens onto the convex face or concave face ofthe lens lid 54, before or after the sterilization process. In order touse the convex face of the lens lid 54 as the temporary lens platform,the lid 12 will be inverted and placed on the table or the like so as toopen upward. On the contrary, when the lid 12 is not inverted and placedon the table or the like so as to open downward, the concave face of thelens lid 54 can be used as the temporary lens platform.

Furthermore, the metal catalyst 14 as depicted in FIG. 3 has a blockshape which is appropriately formed, as shown in enlarged views in FIGS.10 and 11. In the present embodiment in particular, the metal catalyst14 has contours that resemble a dolphin in expectation of attracting theinterest of the observers.

The metal catalyst 14 has a size so as to be inserted into the catalystcontaining portion 24 of the case main unit 10 and displaceable withinthe catalyst containing portion 24. In particular, the height dimensionof the metal catalyst 14 is smaller than the depth dimension of thecatalyst containing portion 24. More preferably, the metal catalyst 14has a size with its height dimension being smaller than the solutiondepth of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 injected in the catalystcontaining portion 24 so as to be completely sunk within the hydrogenperoxide solution 44.

Moreover, the metal catalyst 14 has at its outer peripheral edge asupport rod 60 extending in a straight line. In the present embodimentin particular, since the metal catalyst 14 has elongated contours thatresemble a dolphin, the support rod 60 is integrally formed in a modethat projects from the lengthwise one end portion, which corresponds tothe tail of the dolphin, toward the widthwise opposite sides of thedolphin. That is, the metal catalyst 14 is provided so as to projectfrom the lengthwise middle section of the support rod 60 in theaxis-perpendicular direction.

As depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13, the support rod 60 is contained in theparallel communication groove 38 of the case main unit 10 while themetal catalyst 14 extends through the middle connection passage 42 ofthe case main unit 10 toward inside of the catalyst containing portion24 and is contained therein. The support rod 60 is contained in the basepart of the parallel communication groove 38 of the case main unit 10,and the parallel communication groove 38 has retaining projections 62,62 formed projecting from its opposed walls. Owing to the mating actionof the retaining projections 62, 62 against the support rod 60, thesupport rod 60 is prevented from becoming dislodged out of the parallelcommunication groove 38. Additionally, while contained in the parallelcommunication groove 38, the support rod 60 is readily permitted torotate about its center axis. In association with the rotation of thesupport rod 60, the metal catalyst 14 is readily permitted to displacein the emerging/submerging direction within the catalyst containingportion 24.

As will be apparent from the above description, in the presentembodiment, the support rod 60 formed to the metal catalyst 14 providesa mating portion against the case main unit 10, while the parallelcommunication groove 38 and the retaining projections 62, 62 projectingfrom its opposed walls provide a retaining portion for mating andretaining the support rod 60. On the basis of the mating action betweenthe support rod 60 and the retaining projections 62, 62, a reservingmember is defined for permitting displacement of the metal catalyst 14within the catalyst containing portion 24 in emerging/submergingdirection while preventing unnecessary detachment of the metal catalyst14 from the case main unit 10. With this arrangement, after thesterilization process, even during discharge of the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 from the catalyst containing portion 24 or washing of thecase main unit 10 or the like, the metal catalyst 14 will be reservedwithin the catalyst containing portion 24.

Additionally, the metal catalyst 14, at least a part of its surfacewhich comes into contact with the solution (hydrogen peroxide solution)44 when being immersed within the hydrogen peroxide solution 44, isformed of a metallic material that catalyzes decomposition of thehydrogen peroxide solution 44. With this arrangement, the metal catalyst14 is a metal catalyst that catalyzes decomposition reaction of thehydrogen peroxide solution 44. As the metallic material, while it ispossible to employ any of those conventionally known, a metal that isable to exhibit a stable catalysis during a contact lens sterilizationprocess of multiple times would preferably be employed. As a specificexample, at least one of metals and metal oxides thereof selected fromthe group consisting of platinum, silver, palladium, copper, manganese,cobalt, and aluminum is employed as the metallic material of the metalcatalyst 14.

Note that it is not necessary for the metal catalyst 14 to be entirelyformed of the above-mentioned metal catalyst. For example, the interiorof the metal catalyst 14 which does not come into contact with thehydrogen peroxide solution 44, or a part of its surface which comes intocontact with the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 etc. are allowed to beformed of a material that does not exhibit catalysis. This arrangementmakes it possible for instance to adjust the mass (M) of the metalcatalyst 14 or to attain a greater degree of freedom in molding theshape etc. of the metal catalyst 14. As a specific example, as thematerial that is combined with the above-described catalyst material soas to form the metal catalyst 14 and does not exhibit catalysis, it ispossible to use at least one type of material selected from plastic,metal, glass, and ceramic. Furthermore, as the aforementioned plastic,preferably employed is at least one type of material selected from thegroup consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, polyurethane,modified polyphenylene ether, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethyleneterephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride,polyetherimide, polysulfone, polymethylmethacrylate, and copolymerresins thereof.

In particular, as the metal catalyst 14 of composite structure, forexample, employed is the metal catalyst 14 in which a base material 64molded from a material that does not exhibit catalysis as describedabove into an appropriate shape (for example, a dolphin shape as shown)is used and a catalyst layer 66 serving as a metal coat and fanned of amaterial that exhibits catalysis as described above is adhered to thesurface of the base material 64. The catalyst layer 66 can be formedwith a suitable thickness by a thin film forming technique ofconventionally known such as plating or sputtering so as to cover thesurface of the base material 64.

In addition, the metal catalyst 14 is arranged so as to have anapplicable buoyancy (F) that acts within the hydrogen peroxide solutionand undergo displacement in the emerging/submerging direction inassociation with progress of neutralization (decomposition reaction) ofthe hydrogen peroxide solution 44 while being immersed therein withinthe catalyst containing portion 24. In preferred practice, a ratio M/Fbetween the mass (M) of the metal catalyst 14 and the buoyancy (F)exerted on the metal catalyst 14 within the hydrogen peroxide solutionis set to more than 1 and does not exceed 2. Note that the buoyancy (F)is a force that is exerted on the catalyst main body 58 by itself, anddoes not include an external force that is exerted on the metal catalyst14 by the oxygen gas (bubbles) generated in association withdecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44, forexample.

Meanwhile, the buoyancy (F) can be adjusted by various measures. Forexample, it is possible to adjust the buoyancy by changing the materialof the base material 64 to a selected material of an appropriatespecific gravity. It is particularly preferred to employ a materialhaving a specific gravity that is greater than 1 and does not exceed 3as the base material 64.

Alternatively, it would also be possible to adjust the buoyancy byimparting a hollow structure to the metal catalyst 14 so as to havevoids inside. The voids can be formed to applicable positions indesirable number by blow molding or lost-core molding, for example. Itcould instead be acceptable to impart a foam structure including closedcells by foam molding.

While a material or mass of the support rod 60 integrally formed withthe metal catalyst 14 is not limited in particular, it is desirable thatthe support rod 60 be molded from the same material as the metalcatalyst 14 in consideration of corrosion resistance, formability,strength or the like. Since the support rod 60 will also be immersed inthe hydrogen peroxide solution 44 within the parallel communicationgroove 38, by using a material that exhibits catalysis in order to format least the surface of the support rod 60, the neutralization speed ofthe hydrogen peroxide solution 44 can be adjusted in cooperation withthe metal catalyst 14. At that time, by forming a plurality ofirregularities on the surface of the support rod 60, there will be agreater degree of freedom in adjusting the surface area and hence thecatalysis of the support rod 60. Moreover, as described above, thesupport rod 60 permits the metal catalyst 14 to undergo displacement inthe emerging/submerging direction on the basis of its rotationaldisplacement. Accordingly, it would also be possible for example to forma plurality of projections of ring shape projecting from the outsideperipheral face of the support rod 60 and extending in thecircumferential direction so as to be arranged at a suitable intervalsin the axial direction. With this arrangement, the contact surface ofthe support rod 60 with respect to the inside face of the parallelcommunication groove 38 and hence the rotational resistance will bereduced.

When the metal catalyst 14 is immersed within the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44, the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 willstart owing to the catalysis of the catalyst layer 66 formed on thesurface of the metal catalyst 14. In association therewith, the oxygengas will be generated and come into contact with the metal catalyst 14while being discharged from the surface of the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 to outside as bubbles. This will exert a buoyancy on themetal catalyst 14 as the external force. By utilizing the buoyancy ofthe oxygen gas, the metal catalyst 14 is adapted to undergo displacementwithin the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 depending on the extent of theprogress of decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide.

Besides, in the present embodiment, the metal catalyst 14 has on itssurface a plurality of concave portions and convex portions, whichconfigurate the head, body, tail, back, belly, mouth, pectoral fin,dorsal fin, caudal fin or the like so as to have contours of dolphinshape overall. In particular, the metal catalyst 14 has a hollow 68 ofshallow concave shape serving as a concave portion that extends oversubstantially its entire bottom surface including its belly and opensdownward. Owing to these concave portions and convex portions, the metalcatalyst 14 has a sufficient surface area and is able to carry out thecatalytic reaction by the catalyst layer 66 in an applicable manner. Itis desirable that the metal catalyst 14 have a surface area of between 3and 30 cm² per 10 ml of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44. In addition,the metal catalyst 14 further includes a discharge passage 70 thatvertically and straightly perforates the metal catalyst 14 near itscenter. The lower end of the discharge passage 70 opens near the centerof the hollow 68. Note that the number or shape of the hollow 68 and thedischarge passage 70 are not limited to those shown in the drawings butmay be desirably established.

By so doing, when the metal catalyst 14 is immersed within the hydrogenperoxide solution 44, the oxygen gas generated during the decompositionreaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 will be stored in thehollow 68, whereby the buoyancy of the oxygen gas will more effectivelybe exerted on the metal catalyst 14 as the external force. The buoyancyexerted on the metal catalyst 14 by means of the oxygen gas stored inthe hollow 68 can be adjusted by redesigning the hollow 68 in itscapacity or position (in particular, the distance apart from the supportrod 60 that coincides with the center axis of swinging displacement inthe emerging/submerging direction). The excess oxygen gas will overpassthe peripheral wall of the hollow 68 and be discharged upward from theouter periphery of the metal catalyst 14.

When the decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 issubstantially terminated and the neutralization is completed, generationof oxygen gas will be stopped. However, at that time, the buoyancy ofthe oxygen gas continues to be exerted on the metal catalyst 14 as longas the oxygen gas is stored in the hollow 68. Meanwhile, the oxygen gasstored in the hollow 68 continues to be discharged through the dischargepassage 70 to outside in a prescribed limiting manner.

In preferred practice, the outflow of the oxygen gas from the hollow 68through the discharge passage 70 per unit time is set smaller than theinflow of the oxygen gas into the hollow 68 per unit time duringdecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44. With thisarrangement, at the time which is substantially simultaneous with orbehind the completion of the neutralization process by means ofdecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44, the amountof oxygen gas stored in the hollow 68 becomes insufficient for the metalcatalyst 14 to emerge. By so doing, it is possible to keep the metalcatalyst 14 emerging during the decomposition reaction of the hydrogenperoxide solution 44 while having the metal catalyst 14 submerge due todissipation of the buoyancy when the neutralization of the hydrogenperoxide solution 44 is substantially completed. Note that the outflowof the oxygen gas through the discharge passage 70 per unit time can beadjusted by modifying discharge resistance of the oxygen gas through thedischarge passage 70. As a specific example, modifying thecross-sectional area or the cross-sectional shape of the dischargepassage 70, or modifying the properties of the surface of the dischargepassage 70 such as the extent of hydrophobic property or hydrophilicproperty may be employed.

When carrying out a contact lens sterilization process by using the casefor sterilizing contact lenses 16 constructed as above, the followingmethod will be employed. First, the user of the contact lens places thecase main unit 10 on the table or the like with the lid 12 detached.Then, the user injects and stores the hydrogen peroxide solution 44prepared in advance for a lens sterilization into a solution containingportion which includes the catalyst containing portion 24 and the lenscontaining portions 26, 26 etc.

In addition, before or after the injection of the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44, the user set the metal catalyst 14 in the case main unit10. By so doing, the support rod 60 provided to the metal catalyst 14 isplaced in the parallel communication groove 38 of the case main unit 10and positioned at the deepest part thereof. The metal catalyst 14 isdisposed within the catalyst containing portion 24 thereby. With thisarrangement, the metal catalyst 14 is adapted to come into contact withthe hydrogen peroxide solution 44 stored in the catalyst containingportion 24.

Besides, before or after the injection of the hydrogen peroxide solution44 or setting of the metal catalyst 14, the user removes the respectivecontact lenses from his or her right eye and left eye, and places theremoved contact lenses in the lens containing portion 26 of the casemain unit 10.

In the case where the user injects the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 inthe lens containing portion 26 and then removes and places the contactlens in the lens containing portion 26, it is desirable that beforeplacing the removed contact lens in the lens containing portion 26, theuser temporarily rest the removed contact lens on the convex face or theconcave face of the lens lid 54 serving as the temporary lens platform,which is provided to the lid 12 detached from the case main unit 10 andplaced on the table or the like. Specifically, if one of the left/rightcontact lenses is removed and placed in one lens containing portion 26and then the other contact lens is removed and placed in the other lenscontaining portion 26, when the first-removed contact lens is placed inthe lens containing portion 26, the hydrogen peroxide solution 44injected in the lens containing portion 26 may touch the user's finger.Consequently, there is a risk that the hydrogen peroxide solution 44adhered to the finger may touch the user's eye and cause troubles suchas irritation when the user removes the other contact lens. Therefore,as described above, it is preferable to utilize the convex face or theconcave face of the lens lid 54 for removing the contact lenses fromboth eyes and temporarily resting them, and then to place the twocontact lenses in the two lens containing portions 26, 26 sequentially.By so doing, even if the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 touches thefinger when the user places the contact lens in the lens containingportion 26, it is possible to prevent the hydrogen peroxide solution 44from coming into the user's eye.

Thereafter, by laying the lid 12 on the case main unit 10 and attachingthereto, the sterilization process of the contact lens will be started.

Specifically, since the contact lens for the right eye and the contactlens for the left eye contained within the lens containing portions 26,26 are immersed in the hydrogen peroxide solution 44, the contact lensis subjected to the sterilization process for a prescribed time period.Also, since the metal catalyst 14 is immersed within the hydrogenperoxide solution 44, the oxygen gas is generated in accordance with theprogress of the decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution44. Besides, at the beginning of the sterilization process, as depictedin FIG. 12, within the catalyst containing portion 24 of the case mainunit 10, the metal catalyst 14 contained within the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 displaces upward and emerges by means of its own buoyancyand the buoyancy exerted by the generated oxygen gas (the externalforce). In preferred practice, as shown in the drawings, the upperportion of the metal catalyst 14 juts out and is exposed from thesolution surface. Note that even if the lid 12 is superposed on the casemain unit 10, since the catalyst lid 52 that covers the catalystcontaining portion 24 has a hollow, convex dome shape and bulgesoutward, there is a sufficient inner space above the catalyst containingportion 24 for permitting the metal catalyst 14 to emerge and jut out.

In this state, along with the sterilization process of the contact lensby means of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44, the decompositionreaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 progresses by means of thecatalysis. At that time, the lens lids 54 of the lid 12 is inserted intothe lens containing portions 26, 26 of the case main unit 10, and keptpushed into the hydrogen peroxide solution 44. With this arrangement,the contact lens contained in the lens containing portion 26 is pushedinto the solution by the lens lid 54, and is completely immersed withinthe hydrogen peroxide solution 44. This will stably carry out thedesired sterilization process. Concomitantly, the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 flows out from the lens containing portions 26, 26 by theamount equal to the capacity of the lens lids 54, 54 that is pushed intothe solution. This flowing out of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 willraise the solution surface of the other solution containing portions,whereby the solution surface of the catalyst containing portion 24rises. By so doing, even if the amount of the hydrogen peroxide solution44 injected into the solution containing portion is small, the solutionsurface of the catalyst containing portion 24 will reach a sufficientlevel. Thus, the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 reliably comes intocontact with the metal catalyst 14, realizing emerging action anddecomposition reaction of the metal catalyst 14.

After the sterilization process for a prescribed time period when thedecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 isterminated, generation of the oxygen gas stops and the buoyancy exertedon the metal catalyst 14 by the oxygen gas dissipates. As a result, asdepicted in FIG. 13, the metal catalyst 14 submerges. In particular, themetal catalyst 14 is placed in abutment with the bottom surface of thecatalyst containing portion 24 so as not to be exposed from the surfaceof the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 but be completely immersed therein.Specifically, in the present embodiment, during the decomposition of thehydrogen peroxide solution 44 the metal catalyst 14 displaces upward andemerges due to the buoyancy exerted by the oxygen gas. On the otherhand, when decomposition reaction stops, the metal catalyst 14 becomesheld in non-displacement state from the emerging state, and submerges.Accordingly, after a prescribed time period has passed from the start ofthe sterilization process, the user of the contact lens visually checksthat the metal catalyst 14 has submerged at the bottom surface of thecatalyst containing portion 24, and is able to easily confirm that thedecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 has beencompleted. Therefore, the user can confirm that the hydrogen peroxidesolution 44 has been decomposed and completely changed into water, andthereafter safely take out the sterilized contact lenses.

In this way, at the start of the contact lens sterilization, the uservisually observes that the bubbles (oxygen gas) generate around themetal catalyst 14 and that the metal catalyst 14 emerges so as topartially jut out from the solution surface. This enables the user tocheck that the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 is properly injected andthe sterilization process has normally started. In particular, since theemergence of the metal catalyst 14 that resembles a dolphin out of thesolution surface attracts the interest of the user and delights him/her,it can be expected that the user actively performs the observation. Itcan be further expected that the user is motivated to regularly carryout the contact lens sterilization process by his or her voluntary will.As a result, occurrence of eye diseases caused by wearing the pollutedcontact lens will be avoided, thereby accelerating using of good contactlens.

In addition, since the catalyst containing portion 24 is formedseparately from the lens containing portions 26, 26, the capacity of thecatalyst containing portion 24 and hence the surface area of the metalcatalyst 14 can be sufficiently obtained, thereby effectively achievingthe desired catalysis. Moreover, the opening of the catalyst containingportion 24 is formed separately from the openings of the lens containingportions 26, 26. Accordingly, it is possible to readily check theemergence/submergence of the metal catalyst 14 within the hydrogenperoxide solution 44 without deteriorating ease of placing in and takingout the contact lens with respect to the lens containing portions 26,26. Also, the metal catalyst 14 partially juts out from the solutionsurface during its emergence, making it even easier to be observed.

Besides, the catalyst containing portion 24 and the lens containingportions 26, 26 that separately open from one another are interconnectedvia the adjacent communication passages 34, 34, the parallelcommunication groove 38, or the like. Moreover, the communication ofthese containing portions 24 and 26, 26 is not merely a serial onehaving the opposite passage ends, but the one forming an annularcirculation passage having no passage end. With this arrangement, thedecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution 44 by means ofthe metal catalyst 14 contained in the catalyst containing portion 24can easily spread out into the lens containing portions 26, 26. Thus,the neutralization will progress more uniformly over the entire hydrogenperoxide solution 44 contained in the solution containing portionincluding the catalyst containing portion 24 and the lens containingportions 26, 26. The desired sterilization effect as well as stabilityof the required time for completion of the neutralization or the likecan be obtained thereby.

Moreover, the change of the amount of the oxygen gas generated inassociation with progress of the decomposition reaction of the hydrogenperoxide solution 44 or the change of the position of the generatedoxygen gas will change the buoyancy exerted on the metal catalyst 14. Inassociation with this change in buoyancy, the metal catalyst 14undergoes displacement within the hydrogen peroxide solution 44, so thatthe hydrogen peroxide solution 44 will be stirred and made to flow.Accordingly, the uniform hydrogen peroxide solution 44 within thesolution containing portion including the catalyst containing portion 24and the lens containing portions 26, 26 as described above can be moreeffectively obtained.

Furthermore, the pair of lens containing portions 26, 26 areinterconnected via each of the communicating grooves 34, 38 and theconnection passages 40, 42. Additionally, both of the lens containingportions 26, 26 open onto the bottom surface of the common recess 36.Thus, when the user's finger enters the one lens containing portion 26and takes out the contact lens, the solution pushed out of the one lenscontaining portion 26 can rapidly move to another area such as the otherlens containing portion 26. Therefore, the solution pushed out of thelens containing portion 26 by the finger will effectively be preventedfrom spilling out of the common recess 36.

Next, FIG. 14 depicts a case main unit 80 which constitutes a case forsterilizing contact lenses according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

As depicted in FIGS. 15 through 18, the case main unit 80 is furnishedwith an upper base part 82 of rectangular shape and a peripheral wall 84that extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper basepart 82 so as to have a hollow body of inverted bowl shape openingdownward. The peripheral wall 84 is made higher at its long-side portionon the far side rather than at its long-side portion on the near side.With this arrangement, the upper base part 82 has a tilted surface thatprogressively tilts downward from the far side toward the near side. Theuser of the contact lens operates at the near side (the lower side inFIG. 15) of smaller height.

The case main unit 80 further includes a solution containing portion 86of concave shape opening upward at the center section of the upper basepart 82. The solution containing portion 86 has an oval shape (anelliptical shape) in plan view, and a bottom surface 88 thereof is aflat surface extending horizontally. In the peripheral wall innersurface of the solution containing portion 86, there is formed a step 90extending continuously about the entire circumference in thecircumferential direction at the middle section in the depth directionnear the opening. The upper side (the opening side) of the step 90 isexpanded.

Besides, at the center section of one long-side portion (the long-sideportion on the far side) of the solution containing portion 86, there isformed a catalyst containing portion 92 of circular shape extending inthe depth direction. At least one-half the circumference of the catalystcontaining portion 92 projects out from the solution containing portion86. The catalyst containing portion 92 communicates with the solutioncontaining portion 86 via a communicating window 94, which is formed ata portion that intersects the long-side portion of the solutioncontaining portion 86, namely, the portion of one-half or less of thecircumference of the catalyst containing portion 92.

The solution containing portion 86 has a pair of arcuate projectingportions 96, 96 projecting from its bottom surface 88 at its lengthwisecenter section (the lateral direction in FIG. 15). The pair of arcuateprojecting portions 96, 96 are arranged so as to have their backsopposed to each other. The arcuate projecting portion 96 has a curvatureapproximately equal to the opposite ends of the oval-shaped solutioncontaining portion 86, which has a semicircular shape, and is positionedsubstantially on an extended circumference of that semicircle. With thisarrangement, the pair of arcuate projecting portions 96, 96 and thesemicircles on the lengthwise opposite ends of the solution containingportion 86 cooperate with one another in order to form a left/right pairof lens containing portions 98, 98 in the lengthwise opposite sectionsof the solution containing portion 86.

Note that the each arcuate projecting portion 96 has its circumferentialopposite ends separated from the peripheral wall of the solutioncontaining portion 86, thereby providing respective communicatinggrooves 100 in between. Also, the projecting height of the arcuateprojecting portion 96 is made smaller than the depth of the solutioncontaining portion 86 while being approximately equal to or slightlysmaller than that of the step 90.

At the lengthwise center section of the solution containing portion 86and between the pair of the arcuate projecting portions 96, 96, there isformed a central communication area 102. The central communication area102 is connected with the left/right pair of the lens containingportions 98, 98 via the communicating grooves 100 provided on thecircumferential opposite sides of the each arcuate projecting portion96, while being connected with the catalyst containing portion 92 viathe communicating window 94 provided to the peripheral wall of thesolution containing portion 86. That is, the pair of lens containingportions 98, 98 communicate with each other via the centralcommunication area 102 while communicating with the catalyst containingportion 92.

By injecting the hydrogen peroxide solution in the solution containingportion 86, the hydrogen peroxide solution is adapted to be stored inthe pair of lens containing portion 98, 98 and the catalyst containingportion 92 as well. It is desirable that the volume of the injectedhydrogen peroxide solution be adjusted so that the solution surfacereaches a level approximately equal to or slightly lower than the top ofthe arcuate projecting portion 96. In the present embodiment, theexpanded opening of the solution containing portion 86 which is locatedabove the step 90 defines a common recess 104 onto which the pair oflens containing portion 98, 98 both open.

Furthermore, a metal catalyst 106 as depicted in FIG. 19 is housedwithin the catalyst containing portion 92. The same as the metalcatalyst 14 of the first embodiment, the metal catalyst 106 may beformed of a metal catalyst made of a single material or a plurality ofmaterials, or alternatively, a composite material in which a metalcatalyst layer is adhered to the surface of a suitable base material. Itwould also be acceptable for the metal catalyst 106 to adjust thebuoyancy by forming a void in its interior, or to adjust the surfacearea or the buoyancy to be exerted thereon by forming concave portionsor convex portions thereto. That is, when contained in the catalystcontaining portion 92 and immersed within the hydrogen peroxidesolution, it will suffice for the metal catalyst 106 to have a portionthat exhibits catalysis on at least a part of its surface that comesinto contact with the hydrogen peroxide solution, as well as to bepermitted displacement within the catalyst containing portion 92 and todisplace by means of an appropriate buoyancy.

Specifically, other than the metal catalyst 106 as depicted in FIG. 19which has a circular disk shape with the outside diameter dimensionsmaller than the inside diameter dimension of the catalyst containingportion 92, it is possible to employ, for example, a metal catalyst 107as depicted in FIG. 20 which has a tire shape or the like. The outsidediameter dimensions of the metal catalysts 106, 107 are made larger thanthe opening width of the communicating window 94 so as to be preventedfrom unnecessary escape from the catalyst containing portion 92. Inaddition, the thickness dimensions of the metal catalysts 106, 107 aremade smaller than the depth of the hydrogen peroxide solution containedin the catalyst containing portion 92 so as to be permittedemerging/submerging displacement in the depth direction within thecatalyst containing portion 92.

As in the first embodiment, in the case for sterilizing contact lensesconstructed as above according to the present embodiment as well,hydrogen peroxide solution is injected and stored in the solutioncontaining portion 86 of the case main unit 80, the metal catalyst 106is input in the catalyst containing portion 92, and the contact lensesare placed in the pair of lens containing portions 98, 98, therebysubjecting the contact lenses to a sterilization process. Note that thesame as in the first embodiment, it would also be possible to prepare alid having a shape corresponding to that of the surface of the case mainunit 80 so as to cover the openings of the catalyst containing portion92 and the lens containing portions 98, 98 of the case main unit 80.

At the beginning of the sterilization process, the metal catalyst 106emerges within the hydrogen peroxide solution based on action of its ownbuoyancy and the buoyancy exerted by the generated oxygen gas (theexternal force). On the other hand, when the lens sterilization processfor a prescribed time period is completed and the hydrogen peroxidesolution is neutralized, the buoyancy of the oxygen gas (external force)dissipates and the metal catalyst 106 submerges within the hydrogenperoxide solution.

It is desirable that the metal catalyst 106 partially jut out from thesolution during its emergence and come into abutment with the bottomsurface of the catalyst containing portion 92 during its submergence.However, the above description is not a limitation in any way. It willsuffice for the metal catalyst 106 to undergo emerging/submergingdisplacement in the vertical direction within the solution. Besides, inthe present embodiment, in order to make it easy to observe from theoutside the emerging/submerging displacement of the metal catalyst 106within the solution, it is desirable that at least the outer peripheralwall of the catalyst containing portion 92 be transparent in the casemain unit 80.

In particular, with the metal catalyst having a circular disk shape asdepicted in FIG. 19 or FIG. 20, it is desirable that a shaft-likeportion (while not illustrated) that projects to one side along thecenter axis be integrally formed. By so doing, the shaft-like portionhangs downward in the solution so as to keep the upper portion of thecircular disk horizontal in a substantially stable manner, and is ableto prevent unstable displacement of the circular disk such as flippingover, being upright or the like.

In addition, the metal catalyst having a circular disk shape as shown inFIG. 19 or FIG. 20 is likely to undergo not only displacement ofemerging or submerging but also displacement of swinging or rotationaccording to the position where the oxygen gas is generated due todecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution. Owing to thisswinging or rotational displacement, the hydrogen peroxide solution willeven more effectively be stirred.

As to the case main unit 80 according to the present embodiment, itwould also be possible to employ a metal catalyst 108 as shown in FIGS.21 and 22 that rotationally displaces. The metal catalyst 108 has ashape that resembles a screw or a propeller, and includes a plurality ofblades 112 that radially project from a center boss 110. The tipdiameter of the blade 112 is made smaller than the inside diameter ofthe catalyst containing portion 92. Besides, with respect to each of theblades 112 of the metal catalyst 108, a prescribed tilt angle (the tiltangle that corresponds to an angle of a screw or a propeller) isestablished.

As depicted in FIG. 22, a spindle 114 that projects upward from the basewall of the catalyst containing portion 92 supports the center boss 110.With this arrangement, the metal catalyst 108 is supported so as to berotatable about its center axis extending in the vertical directionwithin the catalyst containing portion 92. Note that the mass of themetal catalyst 108 according to the present embodiment is adjusted suchthat even with the oxygen gas exerted on the metal catalyst 108 by meansof decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution, the metalcatalyst 108 submerges in opposition to the buoyancy and is keptsupported by the spindle 114.

The metal catalyst 108 as described above is disposed in the hydrogenperoxide solution within the catalyst containing portion 92, therebyundergoing rotational displacement based on action of the buoyancy (theexternal force) exerted on the blades 112 by the oxygen gas. Thus, atthe beginning of the contact lens sterilization process as mentionedabove, the metal catalyst 108 rotates in a relatively forceful manner.On the other hand, when the sterilization process for a prescribed timeperiod is completed and the hydrogen peroxide solution is neutralized,the rotational force dissipates and the metal catalyst 108 stopsrotating.

Therefore, by observing the metal catalyst 108 start rotationaldisplacement and be held in a non-displacement state, the user is ableto check the status of the contact lens sterilization process, the sameas the above-mentioned metal catalyst 106 that undergoesemerging/submerging displacement.

With the metal catalyst 108 of this rotation type, it is not necessaryto adjust its own buoyancy with high accuracy in comparison with thecase employing the metal catalyst 106 of emergence/submergence type.Accordingly, there is a greater degree of freedom in selecting thematerial or the like, thereby achieving an advantage of avoiding aproblem of operation failure depending on accuracy of the buoyancy.

Another embodiment of the catalyst of rotation type is depicted in FIG.23. A metal catalyst 120 according to the present embodiment has a ringshape or a cylindrical shape, and is adapted to be mounted onto a casemain unit (not shown) so as to be rotatable in the circumferentialdirection about its center axis. In FIG. 23, 122 denotes a spindlemember that is furnished with a fastening shaft 124 secured to the casemain unit (not shown). The metal catalyst 120 of annular shape isexternally fitted around the spindle member 122 in a rotatable manner soas to be mounted thereto. The metal catalyst 120 is mounted such thatthe fastening shaft 124 is inserted into and secured to, for example,the parallel communication groove 38 of the case main unit 10 accordingto the first embodiment, while the spindle member 122 extendinghorizontally within the catalyst containing portion 24. In this state,the metal catalyst 120 rotatably supported by the spindle member 122 isimmersed and rotatably disposed in the hydrogen peroxide solution 44within the catalyst containing portion 24. Of course, it would alsopossible for the metal catalyst 120 to establish its inside diameterdimension sufficiently greater than the outside diameter dimension ofthe spindle member 122 or the like so as to be permittedemerging/submerging displacement as well within the hydrogen peroxidesolution.

It is desirable to provide a bubble trap to the metal catalyst 120 shownin FIG. 23 for trapping the generated oxygen bubbles and exerting thebuoyancy of the trapped oxygen bubbles as a rotational force in onedirection with respect to the metal catalyst 120 in order to induce itsrotational displacement even more efficiently. Specifically, the bubbletrap is preferably formed as a recess that opens in one circumferentialside of the metal catalyst 120. For example, FIG. 24 depicts a bubbletrap 126 comprising L-shaped or U-shaped protrusions that are formed onone axial end face or on both axial end faces of the metal catalyst 120and open in one rotational direction. Alternatively, it would also beacceptable to employ a plate-shaped bubble trap that projects from theoutside peripheral face of the metal catalyst 120 and tilts toward onecircumferential direction. Generally, the constructions pursuant to anactuating force generating mechanism of a water wheel or the like areappropriately employable.

Note that the metal catalyst 120 of rotation type is not limited to theannular shape as depicted in FIG. 23. Various shapes such as a star, apropeller, a petal, a gear, or the like could be selected for thepurpose of considering design effect, operation efficiency of therotational force on the basis of the buoyancy of oxygen bubbles, or thelike.

Moreover, the case main unit and the lid may be linked with each othervia a bendable hinge part. In that case, it would be possible for thecase main unit and the lid to be formed as separate elements and linkedby a hinge or the like, or alternatively, to be integrally molded so asto be linked by a thin-walled bendable section. As a specific example,as depicted in FIGS. 25 and 26 according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention, by press-forming using a film material made of asynthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, orthe like, a structure integrally equipped with a case main unit 130 anda lid 132 can be provided. Specifically, the case main unit 130 and thelid 132 have a linear section extending along the outer peripheral edgethereof for a predetermined length, and are integrally linked to eachother by the linear section in a bendable manner. By this linkingportion 134 being bent, the lid 132 is bent and superposed against thecase main unit 130. With this arrangement, the solution containingportion 86 is adapted to be covered by means of the lid 132 beingsuperposed against the upper face of the case main unit 130 onto whichthe solution containing portion 86 opens. In order to bend the linkingportion 134 with enhanced ease of operation, it would be effective toprovide perforation-like discontinuous slits, for example. In FIGS. 25and 26, as an aid to understanding, elements like those in the secondembodiment shall be designated by like reference numerals.

Next, FIGS. 27 and 28 depict a case for sterilizing contact lenses 140according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The case forsterilizing contact lenses 140 has a structure in which a case main unit142 of oblong, generally rectangular block shape is furnished with aleft/right pair of lens containing portions 144, 144 that open onto theupper face of the case main unit 142. While not illustrated, a lid isseparately provided so as to be superposed against the case main unit142 from the above and be detachably mounted thereto. By the lid beingsuperposed against the upper face and the outside peripheral face of thecase main unit 142, the pair of lens containing portions 144, 144 willbe covered.

The case main unit 142 described above has a hollow structure that opensdownward, and is constituted by an integrally resin molded componenthaving a prescribed thickness in its entirety. Further, the case mainunit 142 includes a flange portion 148 integrally formed with the rim ofthe lower opening of a peripheral wall 146 so as to jut out to theoutside peripheral face of the case main unit 142. Owing to the lowerend face of the flange portion 148, the case main unit 142 can be placedand used on a generally horizontal support surface such as a table.

Moreover, the case main unit 142 has on its upper wall 150 semisphericalrecesses 152 that open upward respectively in left and right part. Thepair of recesses 152 define the solution containing portion.Furthermore, a basket-shaped fence 154 is attached to each of therecesses 152 so as to be contained therein. The basket-shaped fence 154is constituted by a molded component made of a synthetic resin material,for example, and has a concave structure depressing downward thatresembles a shallow basket or sieve. That is, the basket-shaped fence154 has a porous structure in which a plurality of frames areinterconnected so as to form gaps among the frames. In the presentembodiment in particular, frames that radially extend in the diametricaldirection and frames that annularly extend in the circumferentialdirection are integrally connected so as to provide the porousstructure. A curvature radius of the spherical concave face of thebasket-shaped fence 154 is greater than the curvature radius of theconvex side of a contact lens 155.

The basket-shaped fence 154 is contained in the recess 152 of the casemain unit 142 so that the convex side thereof faces downward. The outerperipheral portion of the basket-shaped fence 154 is supported by theinside peripheral wall face of the recess 152 of the case main unit 142,so that the basket-shaped fence 154 is disposed so as to be supported atthe middle section of the recess 152 in the depth direction. Inaddition, on the inside face of the recess 152 of the case main unit142, there is formed a fence support projection 156 projecting from themiddle section in the depth direction. The fence support projection 156detains and locates the outer peripheral portion of the basket-shapedfence 154 with support, and secures it if needed, so that thebasket-shaped fence 154 is fixedly attached to the prescribed locationwithin the recess 152.

By so doing, within the recess 152 of the case main unit 142, the lenscontaining portion 144 is formed above the basket-shaped fence 154. Thecontact lens 155 is adapted to be contained in the lens containingportion 144 while being supported by the basket-shaped fence 154. Thatis, within the recess 152 serving as the solution containing portion,the area above the basket-shaped fence 154 defines the lens containingportion 144. With support of the basket-shaped fence 154, the contactlens 155 is subjected to a sterilization process while being immersed inthe hydrogen peroxide solution contained within the recess 152.

Meanwhile, by means of the basket-shaped fence 154 being disposed at themiddle section in the depth direction of the recess 152 of the case mainunit 142, there is formed a catalyst containing portion 158 below thebasket-shaped fence 154, at the base part of the recess 152. A metalcatalyst 160 is housed within the catalyst containing portion 158. Themetal catalyst 160 may be formed of a metal catalyst made of a singlematerial or a plurality of materials, or alternatively, a compositematerial in which a metal catalyst layer is adhered to the surface of asuitable base material, the same as the metal catalyst 14 according tothe first embodiment. In the present embodiment in particular, it is notnecessary to adjust the buoyancy of the metal catalyst 160, and themetal catalyst 160 could be separated from the bottom surface of therecess 152 or the basket-shaped fence 154, or alternatively be securedto the bottom surface of the recess 152 or the basket-shaped fence 154.Also, in the present embodiment in particular, by adjusting the size andshape of the gaps of the basket-shaped fence 154, flowing of thecontained hydrogen peroxide solution will be permitted, while passing ofthe contact lens 155 and the metal catalyst 160 will be prevented.Therefore, it is possible to employ a granular one as the metal catalyst160, and at the same time, to prevent the metal catalyst 160 from cominginto contact with the contact lens 155. That is, the basket-shaped fence154 prevents movement of the metal catalyst out of the catalystcontaining portion 158. Accordingly, the basket-shaped fence 154 definesa contact preventing member for preventing the metal catalyst 160 fromcoming into contact with the contact lens 155.

Consequently, with the case for sterilizing contact lenses 140 accordingto the present embodiment as well, the hydrogen peroxide solution isinjected into the left/right pair of recesses 152, 152 respectively, andthe left and right contact lenses 155, 155 are respectively input in thelens containing portions 144, 144 formed within the pair of recesses152, 152, so that a sterilization process of the contact lenses 155, 155by using the hydrogen peroxide solution can be performed. At that time,the pair of lens containing portions 144, 144 are both open upward ontothe upper wall 150 of the case main unit 142, and the contact lenses arecontained in the lens containing portion 144 so as to be supportedhorizontally by the concave bottom surface of the lens containingportion 144 formed by the basket-shaped fence 154. Thus, the user isable to easily place and take out the contact lens 155 with respect tothe lens containing portion 144, thereby exhibiting excellent usability.

Moreover, by employing the metal catalyst 160, the desiredneutralization reaction will stably be manifested, thereby stablycarrying out the desired sterilization process for the contact lens 155with high reliability. In addition, the direct contact of the contactlens 155 to the metal catalyst 160 can be completely prevented, therebyavoiding deterioration of efficiency of catalysis due to adhesion of thecontact lens 155 to the catalyst surface. Besides, progress ofdeposition of the heavy metal to the contact lens 155 will be preventedas practicably as possible, and damage to the contact lens 155 caused byinterference to the metal catalyst 160 having a rough surface will alsobe avoided, thereby affording enhanced ease of use.

Furthermore, the metal catalyst 160 is placed below the contact lens 155adapted to be contained in the lens containing portion 144. With thisarrangement, in association with rise of the oxygen gas generated aroundthe metal catalyst 160, the hydrogen peroxide solution will efficientlybe circulated around the contact lens 155 contained within the lenscontaining portion 144 above the metal catalyst 160. Additionally, itcan be expected that the bubbles of the oxygen gas passing the surfaceof the contact lens 155 will exhibit cleaning effect by means of thecontact action or convection current owing to the oxygen gas.

As needed, a surface treatment is performed to the area which comes intocontact with the contact lens 155 such as the concave side surface ofthe basket-shaped fence 154. The surface treatment is exemplified morespecifically by mirror-like finishing or the like for improving surfaceroughness, or, by plasma treatment or corona discharge treatment or thelike for enhancing hydrophilic property or preventing sticking of thecontact lens 155.

With respect to the case for sterilizing contact lenses 140 according tothe present embodiment as well, it is desirable that at least one of thecase main unit 142 and the lid be formed of a transparent resin so thatthe user can easily observe the condition of neutralization by the metalcatalyst 160, the condition of sterilization by the hydrogen peroxidesolution, or the like.

Next, FIG. 29 depicts a case for sterilizing contact lenses 170according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The case for sterilizing contact lenses 170 is furnished with a casemain unit 172 of oblong, solid, and rectangular block shape. The casemain unit 172 has a left/right pair of solution containing portions 174,174 that open onto the upper face of the case main unit 172. Thehydrogen peroxide solution is adapted to be contained within thesesolution containing portions 174, 174. Note that the same as the fourthembodiment, a lid (not shown) is adapted to detachably be mounted ontothe case main unit 172 so as to cover the pair of the solutioncontaining portions 174, 174.

The solution containing portion 174 has a circular concave shapeincorporating a circular bottom surface 176 and a cylindrical insideperipheral surface 178. Inside the solution containing portion 174,there is provided a protruding support part 180 of generally umbrella ormushroom shape contained therein. The protruding support part 180includes a leg portion 182 of straight pillar shape and anumbrella-shaped head portion 184 integrally formed with the upper end ofthe leg portion 182 and flaring in the axis-perpendicular direction. Thelower end of the leg portion 182 is secured press-fit into a supporthole 185 that opens onto the center of the bottom surface 176 of thesolution containing portion 174, whereby the protruding support part 180is formed projecting upright from the center portion of the solutioncontaining portion 174.

The umbrella-shaped head portion 184 of the protruding support part 180has a generally concave, semispherical shape, and to the upper end facethereof there is provided a lens containing portion 186 of generallyshallow bowl shape. In addition, there are formed a plurality ofthrough-holes 188 that pierce the umbrella-shaped head portion 184 inthe thickness direction. Note that the outside diameter dimension of theumbrella-shaped head portion 184 is made slightly smaller than insidediameter dimension of the solution containing portion 174, so that thereis formed an annular gap between the outside peripheral face of theumbrella-shaped head portion 184 and the inside peripheral surface 178of the solution containing portion 174. A contact lens 190 is adapted tobe placed on and contained in the lens containing portion 186 withsupport.

Meanwhile, in the solution containing portion 174, the area below theumbrella-shaped head portion 184, namely, the bottom-side area, definesa catalyst containing portion 192. Specifically, the solution containingportion 174 is divided by the umbrella-shaped head portion 184 into thecatalyst containing portion 192 located on the bottom side and the lenscontaining portion 186 located on the opening side. A metal catalyst 194is housed within the catalyst containing portion 192.

The metal catalyst 194 has an annular shape and is attached to the legportion 182 of the protruding support part 180 in a displaceablefashion. The aperture of a center hole 196 of the metal catalyst 194 ismade smaller than the outside diameter dimension of the umbrella-shapedhead portion 184 of the protruding support part 180. With thisarrangement, the metal catalyst 194 is prevented from becoming dislodgedand detached from the protruding support part 180 by the umbrella-shapedhead portion 184. As will be understood from the above description, theumbrella-shaped head portion 184 of the protruding support part 180provides a contact preventing member for limiting movement of the metalcatalyst 194 within the solution containing portion 174 as well aspreventing the metal catalyst 194 from coming into contact with thecontact lens 190 contained in the lens containing portion 186.

Note that the metal catalyst 194 may be formed of a metal catalyst madeof a single material or a plurality of materials, or alternatively, acomposite material in which a metal catalyst layer is adhered to thesurface of a suitable base material. The metal catalyst 194 may alsohave a hollow structure. Besides, the buoyancy of the metal catalyst 194is adjusted by: forming a hollow that opens onto its lower face and adischarge passage of the oxygen gas stored in the hollow, like the metalcatalyst 14 according to the first embodiment; forming irregularities onits surface like the metal catalyst 107 depicted in FIG. 20; formingblades on its outside peripheral face like the metal catalyst 108depicted in FIG. 21; forming a bubble trap on its side peripheral facethat opens downward like the metal catalyst 120 depicted in FIG. 24; orthe like.

With this arrangement, during the neutralization reaction with respectto the hydrogen peroxide solution within the catalyst containing portion192, the metal catalyst 194 emerges on the basis of buoyancy action ofthe generated oxygen gas and displaces axially upward along the legportion 182 of the protruding support part 180. Also, owing to thebuoyancy of the oxygen gas exerted on the irregularities or the likeformed on the surface of the metal catalyst 194, it is possible tosubject the metal catalyst 194 to rotational displacement around thecenter axis.

On the other hand, when the neutralization reaction with respect to thehydrogen peroxide solution is completed, the buoyancy action of theoxygen gas against the metal catalyst 194 dissipates, and the metalcatalyst 194 having greater specific gravity than the hydrogen peroxidesolution (the water) undergoes submerging displacement. Consequently,when there is no generation of the oxygen gas, as depicted in FIG. 29,the metal catalyst 194 becomes positioned resting on the bottom surface176 of the solution containing portion 174.

Accordingly, the same as the fourth embodiment, in the case forsterilizing contact lenses 170, the left and right contact lenses 190,190 are horizontally supported by the respective concave bottom surfacesof the pair of lens containing portion 186, 186 so as to be containedtherein. Thus, the user is able to easily place and take out the contactlens 190 with respect to the lens containing portion 186 and carry outthe operation for sterilization of the contact lens 190 with ease andrapidity. Moreover, by positioning the metal catalyst in a state ofnon-contact with the contact lens 190, the sterilization process of thecontact lens 190 can be stably performed with high reliability.Concomitantly, progress of deposition of the heavy metal to the contactlens 190 or damage to the surface of the contact lens will beeffectively avoided.

In particular, in the ease for sterilizing contact lenses 170 accordingto the present embodiment, the same as in the fourth embodiment, themetal catalyst 194 is placed only below the lens containing portion 186.This structure is different from the conventional structures asdisclosed in aforementioned Patent Document 5, for example, wherein themetal catalyst is disposed over the entire inside face of the lenscontaining portion 186 including its side peripheral face. Therefore,the oxygen gas generated by the neutralization reaction will rise frombelow the contact lens 190 disposed at generally center of the lenscontaining portion 186 and only at the center of the lens containingportion 186, within the hydrogen peroxide solution. As a result, withinthe hydrogen peroxide solution contained in the lens containing portion186, there will be effectively produced circulating flow which ascendsat the center of the lens containing portion 186 while descending at theouter peripheral portion thereof. Owing to this circulating flow, thehydrogen peroxide solution within the lens containing portion 186 willbe effectively stirred. Thus, the neutralization reaction will progresssubstantially uniformly over the entire hydrogen peroxide solution. Thesterilization process of the contact lens 190 will also be performedeven more stably over its entirety.

In the present embodiment, it is desirable that at least one of the casemain unit 172 on the one hand, and the umbrella-shaped head portion 184and the lid on the other, be made of a transparent resin. Thisarrangement makes it easy to visually observe the metal catalyst 194from the outside at the time of the contact lens sterilization processby using the hydrogen peroxide solution, and to check the condition ofthe progress of the neutralization reaction in association with thesterilization process.

While the present invention has been described in detail hereinabove interms of the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by thespecific disclosures thereof. For example, as to the case forsterilizing contact lenses 140 depicted in FIGS. 27 and 28 or the casefor sterilizing contact lenses 170 depicted in FIG. 29 as well, acommunication passage for interconnecting the left/right pair of thesolution containing portions may be provided, with a tunnel structure, agroove structure that opens onto the upper face, or the like. It wouldalso be acceptable to further provide the catalyst containing portion 24as shown in the case for sterilizing contact lenses 16 depicted in FIG.13 for communicating with the left/right pair of the solution containingportions. With this arrangement, it is possible to supplementally locateanother metal catalyst in the catalyst containing portion in addition tothe metal catalyst contained in the pair of solution containingportions.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the metal catalyst needs notnecessarily be movable. For example, in the case for sterilizing contactlenses 140 as depicted in FIGS. 27 and 28, it could also be possible forthe metal catalyst to be secured to or formed so as to cover the surfaceof the center of the base part of the lens containing portion 144 thatis covered by the basket-shaped fence 154. Alternatively, the metalcatalyst may be formed so as to cover only the convex side surface ofthe basket-shaped fence 154 which does not come into contact with thecontact lens 155 (the face opposed to the bottom surface of the lenscontaining portion 144). Besides, in the case for sterilizing contactlenses 170 as depicted in FIG. 29, it would also be acceptable for themetal catalyst to be secured to the leg portion 182 of the protrudingsupport part 180, or to be formed so as to cover the surface of the legportion 182.

KEY TO SYMBOLS

-   10, 80, 130, 142, 172: case main unit, 12, 132: lid, 14, 106, 107,    108, 120, 160, 194: metal catalyst, 16, 140, 170: case for    sterilizing contact lenses, 24, 92, 158, 192: catalyst containing    portion, 26, 98, 144, 186: lens containing portion, 32: dividing    wall, 44: hydrogen peroxide solution, 60: support rod, 62: retaining    projection, 64: base material, 66: catalyst layer, 68: hollow, 70:    discharge passage, 155, 190: contact lens

1. A case for sterilizing contact lenses comprising: a pair of lenscontaining portions each opening upward for immersing and sterilizing acontact lens for a left eye and a contact lens for a right eye within ahydrogen peroxide solution, a bottom surface of each of the lenscontaining portions being adapted to support the contact lenshorizontally in a state where either one of a concave side lens surfaceand a convex side lens surface faces toward an opening of the lenscontaining portion; a metal catalyst which catalyzes decompositionreaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution, being provided at a locationwhere the metal catalyst comes into contact with the hydrogen peroxidesolution; and a contact preventing member provided between the metalcatalyst and the lens containing portion for preventing the contact lensfrom coming into contact with the metal catalyst.
 2. The case forsterilizing contact lenses according to claim 1, wherein the metalcatalyst is positioned below the contact lens adapted to be contained inthe lens containing portion.
 3. The case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a solution containing portionfor containing the hydrogen peroxide solution; and a protruding supportpart projecting from a bottom surface of the solution containingportion, wherein the lens containing portion is formed at a projectingdistal end of the protruding support part.
 4. The case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to claim 3, wherein the protruding support partincludes a leg portion projecting from the bottom surface of thesolution containing portion and an umbrella-shaped head portion flaringperipherally outward from a projecting distal end of the leg portion,and the lens containing portion is formed at the umbrella-shaped headportion.
 5. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim4, wherein in the solution containing portion, the metal catalyst ispositioned below the umbrella-shaped head portion, the contactpreventing member comprises the umbrella-shaped head portion of theprotruding support part, and the umbrella-shaped head portion limitsmovement of the metal catalyst within the solution containing portion soas to prevent the metal catalyst from coming into contact with thecontact lens adapted to be contained in the lens containing portion ofthe umbrella-shaped head portion.
 6. The case for sterilizing contactlenses according to claim 1, wherein, as the contact preventing member,a passage constricting member is provided between areas where thecontact lens and the metal catalyst are positioned in order to preventmovement of both the contact lens and the metal catalyst whilepermitting flow of the hydrogen peroxide solution.
 7. The case forsterilizing contact lenses according to claim 1, further comprising atemporary lens platform for temporarily retaining the contact lens, thetemporary lens platform being provided at a surface away from a solutioncontaining portion which is adapted to contain the hydrogen peroxidesolution.
 8. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim1, wherein: a solution containing portion which is adapted to containthe hydrogen peroxide solution includes the lens containing portion; alid is provided for covering the solution containing portion; and a gasdischarge passage is provided for discharging an oxygen gas, which isgenerated in association with a decomposition of the hydrogen peroxidesolution, from the solution containing portion with the solutioncontaining portion covered by the lid.
 9. The case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to claim 8, wherein the lid is provided in abendable manner to a case main unit which forms the solution containingportion, and the solution containing portion is adapted to be covered bymeans of the lid being bent with respect to the case main unit so as tobe superposed against an upper face of the case main unit onto which thesolution containing portion opens.
 10. The case for sterilizing contactlenses according to claim 9, wherein the case main unit and the lid isintegrally molded from a thin-walled resin material, and the lid isbendable by being bent at a linking portion of the case main unit andthe lid.
 11. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim1, further comprising a catalyst containing portion which contains themetal catalyst, wherein the pair of lens containing portions and thecatalyst containing portion are respectively formed as recesses thatopen upward, and mutual communication passages are formed for mutuallyconnecting the recesses so as to allow the hydrogen peroxide solution toflow among the recesses.
 12. The case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to claim 11, wherein each of the pair of lens containingportions has an aperture of the mutual communication passage, and theaperture has a length equal to ⅕ or more of a circumference of the lenscontaining portion.
 13. The case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to claim 11, wherein the mutual communication passagesinterconnect the recesses so as to form an annular circulation passage.14. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim 13,wherein: the catalyst containing portion is positioned between the pairof lens containing portions; a pair of adjacent communication passageseach connecting with one of the lens containing portions are formed on arim of an opening of the catalyst containing portion at positionsopposed to each other so that the pair of lens containing portions areinterconnected via the catalyst containing portion; and a parallelcommunication passage is formed so as to extend parallel to a directionof array of the pair of lens containing portions and the catalystcontaining portion, and lengthwise opposite ends of the parallelcommunication passage each connect with one of the lens containingportions while a lengthwise middle portion of the parallel communicationpassage connects with the catalyst containing portion so that thecirculation passage includes the pair of adjacent communication passagesand the parallel communication passage.
 15. The case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to claim 11, further comprising a common recessthat surrounds a periphery of openings of the pair of lens containingportions and the catalyst containing portion, wherein the pair of lenscontaining portions and the catalyst containing portion open onto thecommon recess.
 16. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according toclaim 11, wherein a lid that covers the opening of the pair of lenscontaining portions has on an inside face thereof inward convex portionscorresponding with the lens containing portions, and by means of the lidbeing mounted onto the opening of the lens containing portions, theinward convex portions are adapted to be inserted into the hydrogenperoxide solution contained in the lens containing portions.
 17. Thecase for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim 16, wherein bymeans of the lid being mounted onto the opening of the lens containingportions, the inward convex portions are adapted to push the contactlenses into the hydrogen peroxide solution contained in the lenscontaining portions.
 18. The case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to claim 1, wherein the metal catalyst is at least one ofmetals and metal oxides thereof selected from the group consisting ofplatinum, silver, palladium, copper, manganese, cobalt, and aluminum.19. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim 1,wherein the metal catalyst has a surface area of between 3 and 30 cm²per 10 ml of the hydrogen peroxide solution.
 20. The case forsterilizing contact lenses according to claim 1, wherein the metalcatalyst is made by adhering a metal coat which catalyzes decompositionreaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution to a surface of a basematerial.
 21. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim1, wherein: the metal catalyst is disposed in a catalyst containingportion and adapted to be immersed within the hydrogen peroxidesolution; during decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxidesolution, the metal catalyst undergoes displacement by exertion ofbuoyancy on the basis of oxygen bubbles being generated; and afterdecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution, the metalcatalyst is held in non-displacement state due to dissipation of thebuoyancy on the basis of the oxygen bubbles while being displaceablewithin the catalyst containing portion.
 22. The case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to claim 21, wherein the displacement of themetal catalyst during decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxidesolution is rotation; and the non-displacement state of the metalcatalyst after decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solutionis stop of rotation.
 23. The case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to claim 21, wherein the displacement of the metal catalystduring decomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution isemergence; and the non-displacement state of the metal catalyst afterdecomposition reaction of the hydrogen peroxide solution is submergence.24. The case for sterilizing contact lenses according to claim 21,wherein the metal catalyst has on a surface thereof at least one of aconcave portion and a convex portion.
 25. The case for sterilizingcontact lenses according to claim 24, wherein the metal catalystincludes on the surface thereof a hollow serving as the concave portionthat opens downward with the metal catalyst immersed within the hydrogenperoxide solution, and the metal catalyst further includes a dischargepassage for discharging the oxygen bubbles trapped in the hollow in alimiting manner.
 26. The case for sterilizing contact lenses accordingto claim 21, wherein with respect to the metal catalyst, a ratio M/Fbetween a mass M and a buoyancy F exerted within the hydrogen peroxidesolution is more than 1 and does not exceed
 2. 27. The case forsterilizing contact lenses according to claim 21, further comprising areserving member that permits displacement of the metal catalyst withinthe catalyst containing portion in emerging and submerging directionswhile reserving the metal catalyst within the catalyst containingportion during discharge of the hydrogen peroxide solution from thecatalyst containing portion.
 28. The case for sterilizing contact lensesaccording to claim 27, wherein the metal catalyst includes a matingportion, and on the basis of mating action of the mating portion,displacement of emergence and submergence of the metal catalyst withinthe catalyst containing portion is permitted while detachment of themetal catalyst from the catalyst containing portion is prevented so asto provide the reserving member.
 29. The case for sterilizing contactlenses according to claim 28, wherein: the catalyst containing portionis positioned between the pair of lens containing portions; a pair ofadjacent communication passages each connecting with one of the lenscontaining portions are formed on a rim of an opening of the catalystcontaining portion at positions opposed to each other so that the pairof lens containing portions are interconnected via the catalystcontaining portion; a parallel communication passage is formed so as toextend parallel to a direction of array of the pair of lens containingportions and the catalyst containing portion, and lengthwise oppositeends of the parallel communication passage each connect with one of thelens containing portions while a lengthwise middle portion of theparallel communication passage connects with the catalyst containingportion so that the circulation passage includes the pair of adjacentcommunication passages and the parallel communication passage; and themating portion provided to the metal catalyst projects out from thecatalyst containing portion so as to be mated with the parallelcommunication passage.